Box Score HOUSTON — Texas Southern erupted for 13 runs over the final three innings to pull away from Alcorn State and secure an 18–5 victory Saturday afternoon in the series finale at Houston.
After trailing early, the Tigers seized momentum in the second inning with a three-run frame and never looked back, piling on seven runs in the fifth and six more in the seventh to turn the game into a rout. Texas Southern finished with 12 hits and drew 11 walks, capitalizing on consistent traffic on the basepaths.
Tanner Marek led the offensive outburst, going 3-for-5 with five RBIs, including a four-run home run in the seventh inning. Jonathan Trejo added a pivotal grand slam in the fifth and finished with four RBIs, while Anthony Ruiz drove in three runs and added two hits.
Marco Mueses delivered a two-run double in the second inning to give the Tigers their first lead, and Texas Southern added to it again in the fourth on an RBI double from Ruiz and an unearned run moments later.
The Tigers broke the game open in the fifth, sending nine batters to the plate. Marek and Zachari Pace drove in runs before Trejo's grand slam pushed the lead to 12–3. Texas Southern continued to apply pressure in the seventh, highlighted by Marek's second home run of the day—another grand slam—capping a six-run inning.
Justin Mays earned the win on the mound, allowing three runs on six hits over 5 2/3 innings while striking out seven. Dalton Alford provided relief, working the final 1 1/3 innings to close out the contest.
Alcorn State scored early on a sacrifice fly in the first and briefly tied the game with a two-run home run by Cooper Harris in the fourth, but the Braves were unable to keep pace with the Tigers' offense. Texas Southern held Alcorn State to eight hits and struck out nine batters on the day.
