ITTA BENA, Miss. - Behind the pitching of Nicholas Johnson (Grand Prairie, Tex.) and Aaron Barkley (El Cajon, Calif.), the Mississippi Valley State University baseball team defeated Alcorn State 3-2 Friday (April 26).  

The win extends Valley's streak to two games and improves their record to 8-22 (6-12 SWAC).  

"We came out and scored a couple runs early." Devils coach Aaron Stevens said. "Nick was pounding the strike zone. I think that kind of got us on through the ballgame. We were in the fifth inning before we knew it. We got a couple runs early, and they held up. Nick threw seven. Barkley came in and threw the last two and shut it down." 

Johnson tied his longest outing of the year with seven frames, scattering 10 hits and allowing one earned run. Along the way he added two strikeouts. With the effort his season ERA lowered to 5.70 as he picked up his team-high third victory. 

"Like coach said, we just wanted to focus on getting ahead in the count and stuff. First pitch, strike. Set up the tone and get outs." Johnson said. 

Barkley came on in relief and pounded the zone for two innings. Tallying two strikeouts of his own, the junior finished the game with his second save.  

All of Valley's runs came in the third inning. Willie Johnson (Lena, Miss.) smacked a two-run double to score Marshall Parrish (Hattiesburg, Miss.) and Chase Colding (Farmington Hills, Mich.). Barkley – who started as a catcher – delivered another double to score Johnson.  

Alcorn (11-26, 4-14 SWAC) scratched out runs in the fifth and sixth innings to close the gap to one. A key double play in the seventh quashed a Braves rally, putting a bow on Johnson's night.  

Valley and Alcorn resume their series Saturday (April 27) with a 3 p.m. start time at the MVSU Baseball Field.