JACKSON — Jackson State defeated Kansas 8-7 Tuesday to split the second game of a doubleheader and to conclude the Tigers’ regular season schedule. The Tigers enter the SWAC tournament next week with a 30-22 overall record and a 15-9 mark in SWAC play.
JSU trailed 4-0 to start the top of the fifth. Equon Smith put the Tigers on the board with a 2 RBI double to left field and Chandler Dillard push across a run with a bunt single, and Marshall Luiz scored on a throwing error by the pitcher to knot the game at 4-4.
In in the top of the sixth, Dezmond Chumley single to right field to push across a run.
JSU added to its lead in the seventh inning. Raul Hernandez added an RBI single up the middle and Rahman Williams homered to left field.
Mario Lopez earned the win on the bump. The Miami native entered in relief and tossed four innings, allowed four hits, two runs. He induced eight fly outs and three ground outs.
Garth Cahill entered in relief in the ninth to earn the save.
As a team, JSU pounded out 13 hits.
Smith finished 1-for-5 with a pair of RBI and R. Williams batted 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.
