BELLEVUE, Wash. (Interstat) — Kade Walker and two relievers combined on a three-hit, one-run performance and Pierre Cabral’s first-inning three-run homer provided all the necessary offense as the Jackson State Tigers defeated the Seattle Redhawks 5-1 in a nonconference baseball game Friday evening at Bannerwood Park.

The game, which began in the afternoon and concluded under the lights, saw the Tigers improve to 6-7 while the Redhawks fell to 2-11.

Walker, named the top star for Jackson State, delivered a dominant outing. The right-hander pitched six innings, allowing just one unearned run on no hits. He walked three, hit a batter and struck out seven. The only blemish came in the third inning when Seattle’s H. Carlson singled, advanced to third on another single and scored on a J. Stevenson groundout. Walker faced the minimum over his final three frames, retiring nine of the last ten batters he faced.

The Tigers’ offense wasted no time, striking for five runs in the top of the first against Seattle starter Travis Farrell. Ro Tate Jr. and Tyree Reed opened the game with consecutive singles. Cabral then launched a 1-0 pitch over the left-field fence for a three-run home run, staking Jackson State to an early 3-0 lead. The inning continued with help from two Seattle errors, and the Tigers ultimately sent nine men to the plate, capitalizing on the defensive miscues to build a five-run cushion before Farrell could record the third out.

Jackson State added its final run in the fifth inning when Diego Melendez led off with a solo home run to left field, making it 5-1.

After Walker departed, the Tigers’ bullpen was overpowering. Derek Arrocha entered with two on and two out in the seventh inning and ended the threat with a flyout. He then proceeded to strike out five of the final six batters he faced over 2 1/3 perfect innings to secure the victory. Jaedeyn Edwards recorded the final two outs of the seventh in between Walker and Arrocha.

Seattle’s offense was stifled all evening, managing only three singles — two in the third inning and one in the fourth. Redhawks batters struck out 13 times, including five against Arrocha.

Farrell took the loss for Seattle, allowing four earned runs on seven hits over five innings. He walked one and struck out five. Jake Morell and Blake Smith provided scoreless relief, with Smith striking out two in 1 1/3 innings.

The most important part of the game was the immediate and decisive first-inning outburst by Jackson State, which was fueled by Cabral’s three-run homer and compounded by Seattle’s defensive errors. That early five-run lead provided Walker with ample margin for error and allowed him to attack the strike zone aggressively against a struggling Seattle lineup, setting the tone for the entire contest.

The teams are scheduled to continue their three-game series Saturday afternoon.