CINCINNATI, Ohio – Sophomore Christopher Alcantara-Diaz continued his torrid stretch at the plate, powering Wilberforce University closer to the .500 mark and a 20-win season with a 14-11 victory over NCAA Division II Kentucky State on Jackie Robinson Day at Gendell Family Field at the Reds Urban Youth Academy on Wednesday.

The reigning NAIA National Player of the Week delivered another monster performance, going 3-for-4 with two home runs, a double, four runs scored, and four RBI. His two-run blast in the fifth inning cut the deficit to 9-8 after the Bulldogs trailed 9-3 through 2.5 innings.

That swing ignited the rally.

Junior Daunte Ward followed by tying the game with a home run, and senior Keith Smith Jr. gave Wilberforce the lead for good with a three-run shot later in the inning to break a 9-9 tie.

Alcantara-Diaz stayed in the middle of the action, scoring on an RBI groundout in the sixth before launching his second homer of the game in the seventh to extend the Bulldogs' advantage to 14-9.

Kentucky State answered with two runs in the eighth and brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth after a pair of walks. Wilberforce turned to Ward for the final out, and the hard-throwing closer induced a soft ground ball to secure his second save of the season.

Smith finished 2-for-4 with three runs scored, three RBI, and a stolen base. Freshman Brandon Bell went 2-for-3 with a run scored, an RBI, and four stolen bases, while Ward added two hits, three runs scored, and two RBI to go along with his save.

Junior Joe Mendy drove in two runs, and junior Darius Woodson contributed two hits and two runs scored.

Senior Xavier Thompson (5-2) earned the win, allowing 10 runs on nine hits over 7.2 innings.

Wilberforce (17-18) closes the regular season with a three-game HBCUAC home series against Rust, holding a two-game lead for the East Division's No. 3 seed.