HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (Interstat) — In a game that defied pregame projections and featured a dramatic late-inning rally that fell short, the Alcorn State Braves held on to defeat the Alabama A&M Bulldogs 8-6 in a Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball game Saturday at Bulldog Field.

The victory, secured in a contest that began in the afternoon and concluded under evening lights, marked just the second win of the season for Alcorn State, which improved to 2-15. Alabama A&M fell to 4-14. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a low-scoring 3-0 victory for the Bulldogs, who were given a 65.6% probability to win by the service’s ELO system.

The story of the game was the resilient pitching of Alcorn State starter Kayden Sutton and a costly defensive lapse by Alabama A&M that sparked the Braves’ offense. Sutton delivered a crucial performance for the struggling Braves, working 7 2/3 innings and allowing four runs, though only one was earned, on 11 hits with one strikeout. This outing was a stark improvement from his previous start on March 7 against Mercer, where he surrendered four earned runs in five innings.

Alcorn State seized control early, capitalizing on Alabama A&M mistakes to build a lead it would not relinquish. In the top of the first inning, the Braves scored two unearned runs without the benefit of a hit against Bulldogs starter Edyn Barber. Walks to Rayfield Adams III and Jaylyn Bennett, a passed ball, a stolen base, and an error by first baseman Zamar Lewis allowed both runners to cross the plate, with Keatan Hawk driving in the first run with an infield single.

The Braves extended their lead to 4-0 in the fourth inning against reliever Antonio Torres. Nico Garcia doubled and later scored on an RBI single by Adams III. Adams III then scored himself on another passed ball by Alabama A&M catcher Wilmer Cuevas.

The most important sequence of the game occurred in the top of the seventh inning, with Alcorn State leading 4-1. The Braves broke the game open by scoring three unearned runs, all stemming from errors by Alabama A&M shortstop Chris Walker and third baseman Keondre Fields. Cooper Harris, who had walked and stolen second, scored on Fields’ error. Keatan Hawk and Asher Friedman also came around to score, with Friedman crossing on a sacrifice bunt by Nico Garcia, pushing the Alcorn State advantage to 7-1.

Alabama A&M, which outhit Alcorn State 11 to 6, finally broke through against Sutton in the bottom of the sixth. With the bases loaded and two outs, Chris Walker atoned for his earlier fielding mistake by clearing the bases with a three-run double to right field, cutting the deficit to 7-4.

Alcorn State added an insurance run in the eighth on an RBI single by Cooper Harris, making it 8-4. That run proved vital as Alabama A&M mounted a serious threat in the bottom of the eighth. After Sutton issued a walk to load the bases with two outs, he was relieved by Hayden Konkler. Konkler induced a ground ball from Keondre Fields, but right fielder Asher Friedman committed an error, allowing two unearned runs to score and pulling the Bulldogs within 8-6. Konkler escaped further damage by getting Tervell Johnson to fly out.

In the ninth, Konkler worked around a leadoff walk and a one-out single by Bryce Hammonds. After a fielder’s choice, he got Chris Walker, who represented the tying run, to fly out to right field to end the game and earn the save.

For Alabama A&M, Chris Walker went 1-for-4 with the pivotal three-run double. Keondre Fields had a single and drove in three runs, though two were unearned. Litarris Murray went 2-for-4 with two doubles. The Bulldogs used seven pitchers, with Torres taking the loss after allowing two runs in 3 2/3 innings of relief. Virgil Heath and Bryce Dolce each provided a scoreless inning of relief.

The two teams will conclude their three-game SWAC series on Sunday.