May 17, 2007

JACKSON, Miss. -- The Southern University Jaguars and the Alcorn State University Braves opened the Southwestern Athletic Conference 2007 Baseball Championship with a defensive gem. Southern defeated Alcorn State 2-1 in just over two hours at Smith-Wills Stadium in Jackson, Mississippi.

Southern's Roydrick Merritt (7-1) pitched a complete game to pick up the win. In 9 innings of work Merritt allowed only 5 hits and gave up 1 run, while striking out 4 batters. Alcorn State's Lee Johnson (2-5) suffered the loss. In 9 innings of work he gave up 8 hits, 2 runs, and a walk.

Victor Franklin and Juan Mendoza led the Jaguar offense as they each went 2-4 and scored a run. Shawn Taylor recorded 2 hits for Alcorn State. Chris Walker went 1-3 at the plate and scored ASU's only run of the game.

Southern got on the scoreboard first. In the sixth inning Franklin got into scoring position on a triple and scored on a Gerard Gause sacrifice fly to make the score 1-0. The Jags scored their final run of the game at the top of the seventh. Mendoza opened the inning with a lead off single and advanced to third on two straight ground outs. He was brought home on a Michael Thomas single to make the score 2-0.

Roy Merritt pitched a complete game in SU's 2-1 win over Alcorn State.

Alcorn State made its move in at the bottom of the ninth inning. Walker doubled and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Merritt then retired the next two batters, forcing Chris Lloyd to pop out to second base and Caleb Betschart struck out. With two outs Taylor brought Walker home on an RBI single. Merritt ended the game by striking out Marcus Davis.

Southern will return to action Thursday, May 17 to play the winner of the Prairie View -- Mississippi Valley State game. The game is set to start at 4 p.m. Alcorn State will get the loser of the Jackson State - Arkansas-Pine Bluff game. The game is scheduled for an 8 a.m. start time.

Follow the Southern Jaguars and all of the 2007 SWAC Baseball Tournament action at http://swac.org/06-07/baseball/bsbtrny/bsbtrnyindex.htm