LORMAN, Miss. (Interstat) — Cody Leming’s RBI single in the top of the 10th inning broke a tie and proved to be the decisive run as Mississippi Valley State edged Alcorn State 6-5 in the opener of a doubleheader on Wednesday.

The Delta Devils, who improved to 8-17, squandered a five-run lead before Leming delivered his clutch hit. Johnny Escobalez Jr., who had walked and stolen second, scored from third on Leming’s single up the middle.

Logan Darnell then worked a perfect bottom of the 10th, recording two strikeouts and a flyout to seal the victory and earn the save. The loss dropped Alcorn State to 2-23.

Mississippi Valley State built a commanding 6-0 lead through two and a half innings, capitalizing on early Braves mistakes. The Delta Devils scored once in the first on Eric Williams’ sacrifice fly, then erupted for four runs in the second, aided by a throwing error from Alcorn State right fielder Jamir Holloway. An unearned run in the third extended the lead to six.

Alcorn State starter Kanious Davis struggled, allowing six runs, only two earned, on seven hits over five innings. He walked five and struck out three.

The Braves began their comeback in the seventh inning against Delta Devils starter Luke Richard. Pinch-hitter Gavin Caston singled and scored on Holloway’s triple down the right-field line. Holloway then came home on a Jaylyn Bennett single, cutting the deficit to 6-4.

Alcorn State pulled within a run in the eighth after a pitching change. Julian Jarrett walked against reliever Camden Farmer, advanced on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a wild pitch to make it 6-5. The Braves threatened further but had a runner picked off first to end the inning.

Richard earned the win for Mississippi Valley State, going seven innings and allowing four runs, three earned, on nine hits. He struck out three and did not issue a walk. Jacob Wingard took the loss for Alcorn State after surrendering the go-ahead run in the 10th.

The most critical sequence of the game occurred in the bottom of the eighth inning. With the Braves having just scored to narrow the gap to one run and with a runner on first and one out, Farmer picked off pinch-runner Chance Jackson at first base. That out proved monumental, as it erased a potential scoring threat before a wild pitch allowed Jarrett to score from third. Without the pickoff, the Braves likely would have had the tying run in scoring position with less than two outs instead of settling for a single run on the wild pitch with the inning ending shortly thereafter.

Holloway led Alcorn State’s 10-hit attack, going 2-for-5 with a triple and two RBIs. Bennett added three hits and an RBI. For Mississippi Valley State, which finished with nine hits, Escobalez scored three runs and stole three bases, while Leming had two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored.

The teams were scheduled to conclude the doubleheader later Wednesday.