Tigers defeat Jackson State 8-4 at SWAC Tournament

NEW ORLEANS – The Tigers of Texas Southern University advanced to the semifinals of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament with an 8-4 win over Jackson State on Thursday.
 
At Wesley Barrow Stadium, TSU's first three batters scored two runs apiece as the Lone Star State's Tigers overcame an early deficit. Kamren Dukes went 3-for-3, while Gaudencio Lucca and Jose Camacho knocked two RBIs apiece to lead TSU to their sixth consecutive win in the SWAC's postseason event.
 
Peyton Schneider struck out four JSU hitters and scattered nine hits over six and one-third innings to pick up the win. After losing his first six decisions of the season, Schneider (4-6) has picked up the win in each of his last four starts.
 
Chris Suarez pitched the final two innings to earn his fifth save of the season, striking out three batters and allowing only one run in the process. With TSU protecting a 6-3 lead in the top of the seventh, Robert Loza got his team out of a jam by striking out both Jackson State batters he faced while stranding two runners on base.
 
With Dukes' 3-for-3 day, he stretched his streak of reaching base safely to 43 consecutive games. Dukes saw his 34-game hitting streak – the longest active streak in Division I at the time – ended in Wednesday's win over Alcorn State.
 
Blake Hicks went 2-for-3 with an RBI for Texas Southern. Lucca picked up the game-winning run with his two-RBI double to score Dukes and Jose Cabreja in the bottom of the fourth inning.
 
With the win, the Texas Southern will return to action Friday at 3 p.m. The Tigers will face the winner of Friday morning's elimination game between Alcorn State and Jackson State.