NEW ORLEANS – Texas Southern collected a 10-2 victory over Jackson State in the first round of the SWAC Baseball Championship on Wednesday at Wesley Barrow Stadium.
Texas Southern took an early lead in the second as Blake Hicks doubled in Richard Alamo. Hicks then scored on Joel Rosario's ground out.
 TSU put pressure on the JSU defense as Kamren Dukes walked then stole second which helped distract Jackson State's catcher. Dukes and Ryan Lazo both scored on an error by JSU's catcher Jonah Hargroves who threw it away on an attempt to pick off Dukes at third.
Lamar Briggs put Jackson State on the scoreboard in the fourth with a solo shot to right center. Jackson State threatened in the sixth, but Texas Southern's starting pitcher Larry Romero got the double-play and strike out to end of the inning.
Texas Southern picked up a run on Rosario's RBI single to center, scoring Alamo from second. JSU's Jesus Santana picked up a RBI doubled in Bryce Brown in the bottom of the eighth, cutting the lead to 5-2.
Texas Southern added four more runs in the top of the ninth. OJ Oloruntimile picked up two RBI on a double to the center field wall and advanced to third on the throw home. After three straight walks, Jimenez picked up a RBI on a walk before Rosario hit a RBI single to score Alamo.
JSU's Jamal Wilson (4-5) gave up four runs (two earned) on two hits, walked four and struck out two in 1.2 innings pitched to take the loss.
Texas Southern's Romero (9-3) scattered two runs on eight hits, struck out five and walked two over eight innings of work.Â
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