JACKSON, Miss. (Interstat) — Diego Melendez homered twice and drove in five runs to lead Jackson State to a 12-6 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday evening at Braddy Field in a Southwestern Athletic Conference matchup.

Melendez went 4 for 5, launching a two-run homer in the first inning and a three-run blast during a seven-run third inning that turned a close game into a rout. The Tigers improved to 23-24 overall and 2-1 in the weekend series against the Golden Lions, who dropped to 22-32.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff grabbed an early lead, scoring six runs in the top of the second inning. With the bases loaded and two outs, Vinny Saumell delivered a two-run single up the middle, scoring Konner Giddley and Blake Coleman. Saumell finished 3 for 4 with two RBIs. The Golden Lions had 14 hits in the game.

Jackson State answered immediately. After Melendez’s first homer cut the deficit to 6-2 in the bottom of the first, the Tigers chipped away with a run in the second on a fielder’s choice by Robert Tate Jr. The score was 6-4 entering the third.

The bottom of the third proved decisive. Edwin Lemus Hudson Jr. singled, Hederick Torres bunted for a single and Payton Boines singled to load the bases. Shemar Harris lifted a sacrifice fly to score Hudson, and Isaac McClenty followed with a sacrifice fly to score Torres, tying the game at 6. Tate then singled to drive in Boines and give Jackson State a 7-6 lead. After a pitching change, Melendez crushed his second homer, a three-run shot to left, extending the lead to 10-6.

Torres finished 3 for 5 with two RBIs and two doubles. Tate had two hits and two RBIs.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff got one run back in the fourth. Zach Wieder doubled and scored on an error, and Aaron Grant singled in Wieder. Nick Hockemeyer then singled to score Grant, pulling the Golden Lions within 10-6. But Jackson State added a run in the fourth on Torres’ RBI double and another in the sixth on a groundout by Hudson.

Wieder, who started the game at pitcher, allowed one earned run on no hits over three innings with two strikeouts. He also played second base and third base later in the game. Grant pitched a scoreless seventh with two strikeouts, and Jalen Porter pitched a scoreless eighth with two strikeouts. For Jackson State, Trae Burton threw two scoreless innings of relief, allowing one hit. Kade Walker and Jaedeyn Edwards each tossed a scoreless inning.

The Golden Lions left nine runners on base and stranded the bases loaded in the third inning.

The series concluded a three-game set between the SWAC opponents. Jackson State won the opener Friday 6-4 after losing to Arkansas-Pine Bluff 8-6 on Thursday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Jackson State 7, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 4. Interstat’s ELO system gave Jackson State a 68.80 percent probability to win.