LORMAN, Miss. - TSU closed out SWAC opening weekend with another huge game as they defeated Alcorn State 18-4 on Sunday.
TSU moved ahead 1-0 as Jeremy Gaines' sac fly scored Johnathon Thomas, who led the game off with a leadoff single. The lead increased to 2-0 in the second as Michael Goudeau drove in Jeremy Almaguer but ASU tied it in the bottom frame with a pair of runs. The tie was brief as Thomas opened the third with a double, stole third and scored on an ASU error. Gabe Vasquez's sac upped the lead to 4-2 as Gaines scored on the play. TSU began to create separation with a four-run fourth as Tyrese Clayborne, Thomas, Justin Cooper amd Almaguer all scored for an 8-2 lead.
ASU scored a run in the fourth to draw within 8-3 but TSU kept charging back as Gaines and Almaguer both hit RBI while Roderick Coffee, Goudeau and Thomas all drew bases loaded walks. CJ Castillo and Courtenay Neal both recorded bases loaded RBI in the sixth followed by Justin Blogg's RBI as the lead grew to 16-3. ASU would cross home a run in the bottom frame but TSU added two more runs in the seventh as an ASU error led to runs from Cooper and Herbert Watts.
Gaines finished 3-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored while Thomas, Cooper, Vasquez and Almaguer all had two hits. Almaguer also led TSU with four runs and three walks.
Brian Williams picked up the win on the mound as he struck out six in five innings of action.
TSU is back in action at home for a three-game series against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Friday at 5 p.m.
