ITTA BENA, Miss. – Nicholas Johnson (Grand Prairie, Tex.) pitched a masterful complete game, but a run in the ninth cost Mississippi Valley State a 1-0 loss to the Alabama A&M Bulldogs Friday (May 3.)

Johnson tied a career high in strikeouts with eight and surrendered just one walk. He shut out the Bulldogs for eight frames, eliminating a bases loaded threat in the sixth and stranding a runner at third in the seventh.

Despite his efforts, Valley struggled to put a run on the scoreboard. Twice runners were cut down at the plate – Marshall Parrish (Hattiesburg, Miss.) in the second and Wendell Rieves (Crawford, Miss.) in the fourth.

Alabama A&M's Michael Hovermill was equally as masterful. He also went the distance surrendering four hits to the Delta Devils. Rieves managed two hits – a single and a double – off the Bulldog junior.

In the ninth, Kyle Redmond was able to crack the scoreboard for the game's only run.

Valley falls to 8-25 (6-15 SWAC) this season. Game two of the series is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday (May 4).