LORMAN &8212; The devils of Mississippi Valley were too much for Alcorn State University in Lorman Friday, taking a close ball game 5-3. &8220;What hurt us was we just didn&8217;t hit the ball,&8221; Alcorn head coach Willie McGowan said &8220;We left too many people on base.&8221;

It was evident that baseball is sometimes a game of inches when the lead hung in the webbing of Alcorn left fielder Marcus Davis glove in the sixth inning. Davis almost robbed Valley catcher Noah Trujiuo of a solo homerun, but the ball flicked from his glove and fell over the fence giving Valley a 3-2 lead. &8220;We did get a break or two, and the homerun did spark the team,&8221; Valley head coach Doug Shanks said. After that the Devils didn&8217;t loose the lead. Valley then went up 4-2 in the seventh inning after Zach Penpraise scored on a throwing error from Davis which short hopped shortstop Greg White and hit White in the eye. White had trouble finding the ball, which gave Penpraise the chance to round third base to score. Alcorn did manage to bring the game back to in striking distance in the seventh inning after Shawn Taylor hit into a fielders choice to score White to make it a 4-3 ball game. Valley then scored an insurance run in the ninth inning after pinch hitter Mark Vance hit a sacrifice fly to score Kyle Latiolais to make it 5-3. Valley Pitcher Danny Hall threw a complete game 10 strikeouts. &8220;Alcorn had a chance there but pitcher Danny Hall made some great pitches,&8221; Shanks said. Alcorn freshman pitcher Darryl Jordan pitched seven innings with six strikeouts and gave up three earned runs. He was relieved by Matt Chatwin. &8220;I think our pitchers did a tremendous job,&8221; McGowan said. &8220;We played good enough to win that game and our pitchers did good enough.&8221; Alcorn&8217;s shortstop smashed a triple down the first base line in the first inning. Right fielder Caleb Betschart then scored the first run of the game with an RBI single to score White. Valley took advantage of back-to-back base hits from Ross Myers and Damon Lessler to load the bases. Then Latiolais was hit a pitch to walk in Valley Right fielder Ross Myers to tie the game up 1-1. The game was ties at 3-3 after the third inning when Valleys Trujiuo hit an RBI single to score Van Wilson. Alcorn came back after Valley pitcher Hall balked with loaded bases to walk in White. &8221;All we have to do is go up to Valley tomorrow and win those two,&8221; McGowan said &8220;When we are playing well nobody can beat us.&8221;