UAPB wins 16-4 to take 1st series

Another big offensive day lifted the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff baseball team to its first series victory in SWAC play.

UAPB defeated Alcorn State 16-4 in seven innings Saturday at the Torii Hunter Baseball Complex in Pine Bluff.

After dropping the series opener 8-7 in 10 innings Thursday, UAPB (1117, 2-7 SWAC) run-ruled the Braves in two-straight games to clinch the series.

UAPB scored 6 runs in the bottom of the first against Alcorn starter Andres Chirinos (0-4), who was pulled after recording two outs. The Golden Lions added 8 in the third and 2 in the fourth to lead 16-0.

Alcorn State (2-18, 1-7) ended the shutout in the top of the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Dillon Crowell, then added 3 runs in the sixth.

UAPB didn’t score again but kept its lead large enough to trigger the runrule in the seventh.

UAPB leftfielder Darrius Brown drove in 3 runs and scored 2 on 1 for 2 hitting.

Jalyn Williams, Carlos Rodriguez-Velez and Trinidad De La Garza added 2 RBIs apiece. Rodriguez-Velez joined Edwin De La Cruz in scoring 3 runs each.

Junior righthander Jaedon Willis (2-3) started for UAPB and pitched 5 innings. He allowed 3 runs, 2 earned, on five hits. He struck out four hitters and walked four before giving way to the bullpen.

Alcorn third baseman Ben Martin led the Braves’ offense, hitting 2 for 2 with an RBI and a walk. Catcher Nico Garcia hit 2 for 3 with a run.

UAPB outhit Alcorn 105. The Braves committed two errors to UAPB’s one.

The Golden Lions will next face Jackson State at 3 p.m. Tuesday in a non-conference game in Pine Bluff.