Tigers Open Series With 12-6 Win Over Alcorn State

TSU drew 19 walks and did the rest of its damage on the base paths as they defeated Alcorn State 12-6 in the opener of a three-games series at MacGregor Park on Friday.
 
TSU jumped out to a 1-0 lead after the first before moving ahead 3-0 in the second as Roderick Coffee hit a sac fly along with Rueben Bennevendo's score on a wild pitch. Tyrese Clayborne's bunt single scored Justin Cooper for a 4-0 lead.
 
A nearly two-hour lightning delay halted TSU's progress as TSU didn't score until the fifth on an ASU throwing error. The Tigers added four more runs in the sixth to lead 9-0 but ASU tried to mount a comeback with four runs in the seventh. Johnathon Thomas hit a two-run homer over the center field fence in the seventh as TSU led 11-4 followed by Clayborne's RBI walk for the final score of the night.
 
Thomas finished 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs followed by two hits and three RBI from Clayborne. Gabriel Vasquez walked four times while five Tigers drew two walks apiece. As a team, TSU stole nine bases as both Vasquez and Thomas had three each.
 
TSU's pitching staff combined to strike out 12 batters as four pitchers saw action. CJ Castillo and Alex Olguin both struck out four batters.
 
The series resumes at 2 p.m. tomorrow at MacGregor Park.