The Jackson State baseball team ended its regular season on a high note as the Tigers defeated Big 12 opponent Kansas 8-7 Tuesday evening in Lawrence, Kansas.
After dropping, the first game of the doubleheader 2-1, Jackson State (30-22, 15-9) earned its 30th win of the season and finished second in the SWAC East division behind Alabama State (25-24, 18-5). With the win, JSU also sits as the only team in the conference to secure 30 wins this season.
Through the first four innings, the Tigers remained scoreless. In the top of the fifth, however, things changed. Equon Smith hit a 2 RBI double to the left field and Chandler Dillard used a bunt single to help the Tigers earn a run. Then, Marshall Luiz scored on a throwing error by KU’s pitcher, tying the game at 4 all.
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Dezmond Chumley singled to the right field to push in a run for JSU in the sixth before the Tigers added to their lead in the seventh with a RBI single from Raul Hernandez and a home run from Rahman Williams.
As far as pitching, Mario Lopez stepped up, tossing four innings and allowing four hits and two runs. He forced eight fly outs and three ground outs. Meanwhile, Garth Hill earned a save at the mound as a relief in the ninth inning.
With the regular season over, Jackson State will now prepare for the 2019 SWAC Baseball Tournament in New Orleans, Louisiana.