MADISON, Ala. – Alabama A&M (11-31, 8-16 SWAC) delivered an offensive barrage against Mississippi Valley State (10-24-1, 4-18 SWAC) and took the final game of the series with a 10-5 decision on Sunday, May 8 in an NCAA Division I baseball game.
Following a scoreless first inning, the Bulldogs would waste no time getting on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second as sophomore catcher Dillon Roop (New Market, Ala.) scored on a passed ball for a 1-0 lead. MVSU would then respond in the bottom of the third inning with Dreylin Holmes flying out to center field and allowed Maury Weaver to score and even the game, 1-1.
The Bulldogs would then answer in the bottom of the inning with an offensive barrage. Firstly, junior third baseman Jared Tribett (Lumberton, Miss.) homered to left field before Roop scored to increase the advantage by three.
Junior short stop CJ Mervilus (Brooklyn, N.Y.) would then single to right field and graduate center fielder Damani Thomas (Zellwood, Fla.) would add another run. First baseman Trevor Berkemeyer (North Las Vegas, Nev.) would then homer to left field and bring home Mervilus for a 6-1 advantage. AAMU would continue their dominance in the bottom of the sixth inning as Berkemeyer singled to right center and allowed graduate left fielder Nemo Wright (PG County, Md.) and Mervilus to score to push their lead by seven runs.
The Delta Devils would then finally respond in the top of the seventh inning as Weaver hit a home run to left field and brought home Jose Salazar-Ortega to cut the deficit to 8-3. The Bulldogs would answer loudly in the bottom of the inning with Roop homering to left field and allowed Tribett to score for a 10-3 lead.
Pitching would rule until the top of the ninth inning as MVSU responded with Treadwell Kennedy grounding out to second base and brought home Narvin Booker before Holmes homered to center field to cut the lead to 10-5. It would not be enough as the Bulldogs would secure the game and sweep the Delta Devils.
Weaver led MVSU with a 2-for-5 day, two RBIs, a home run and two scored runs while Holmes went 3-for-5 with a pair of RBIs, a home run and a scored run. Calvin McClendon threw 5.1 innings, striking out seven while allowing seven runs to fall to 2-3.
Roop led the Bulldogs with a 3-for-3 day, with two RBIs, a home run and three runs scored while Berkemeyer was 2-for-4 with three RBIs, a homerun and a run scored. Tribett went 2-for-5 with an RBI and two scored runs and Mervilus was 1-of-3 with an RBI and two scored runs. Graduate pitcher Noah Whitted (Beaumont, Texas) threw seven innings, striking out five and only allowing three runs to move to 2-3.
The Bulldogs will be back in action on Tuesday, May 10 as they head to Florence, Alabama to face off against North Alabama. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Mike D. Lane Field.
