PINE BLUFF, Ark. (Interstat) — Kenney Fabian delivered a dominant start and the Arkansas-Pine Bluff offense erupted for 18 runs on 13 hits to overwhelm Alcorn State 18-2 in a Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball game Saturday at Torii Hunter Baseball/Softball Complex.

The game, which began in the afternoon and concluded in the evening, was a stark reversal from Friday’s series opener, which the Golden Lions (11-17, 4-4 SWAC) won 8-7. This time, they left no doubt, capitalizing on 11 walks and five hit batters while sending 12 men to the plate during a decisive seven-run third inning that broke the game open.

Alcorn State (2-21, 2-6) struck first without a hit in the opening inning. Leadoff batter Rayfield Adams III reached on a fielding error by shortstop Aaron Grant, advanced to third on two passed balls, and scored on a wild pitch for a 2-0 lead.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff answered with a run in the bottom of the first on an RBI single from Grant, then took the lead for good with two in the second. A bases-loaded groundout by Vinny Saumell and an RBI groundout from Jose Vasquez made it 3-2.

The floodgates opened in the third. The Golden Lions batted around, scoring seven runs on just two hits but taking advantage of four walks and three hit batters. A sacrifice fly by Ian Smith, a bases-loaded walk to Zach Wieder, and a two-run single from Blake Coleman highlighted the inning, which pushed the lead to 9-2.

Fabian (1-0) was the story on the mound, stifling the Braves’ lineup over six strong innings. He allowed just one hit—a sixth-inning double to Adams III—and one earned run while striking out six and walking none. His performance provided stability as the offense built an insurmountable lead.

The Golden Lions continued to add on, scoring three in the fourth and six more in the sixth. Wieder tripled in two runs in the sixth and finished 2 for 5 with four RBIs. Smith also drove in four runs, going 2 for 3 with a sacrifice fly. Saumell was 2 for 4 with two RBIs, and Coleman drove in three.

Alcorn State managed only three hits total. Adams III scored both runs for the Braves, coming home on a wild pitch in the first and a sacrifice fly by Keatan Hawk in the sixth. Clayvonjae Wright drove in the other run with a pinch-hit single in the seventh.

The lopsided result defied the pregame projection from Interstat, which had forecast a 3-1 Arkansas-Pine Bluff victory and gave the Golden Lions a 76.3% probability to win.

The teams conclude the three-game SWAC series Sunday afternoon.