Final Box

MONTGOMERY, Ala.  – The Alabama State University baseball team opened its 2010 home schedule with a 6-1 win over Tuskegee Wednesday afternoon at Paterson Field.

Alabama State (2-0) pounded out 10 hits, including three for extra bases, and the pitching staff limited the Tigers to just six hits. Tuskegee slipped to 1-5 with the loss.

Junior third baseman Ron James went 2-for-4 with a double, one RBI, and one run, while freshman leftfielder Kejuan Riley added two doubles and one RBI.

“The wind was blowing in and it held the ball up today,” said ASU head coach Larry Watkins.  “The pitchers did a good job of throwing strikes and letting the defense work for them.  We thought there would be a few rough spots, but I thought all-in-all we played very well for our second game of the season.”

Bama State came out swinging as designated hitter, Jourdon Mott tripled down the right field in the bottom of the second inning producing the first Hornet hit of the game.  Riley then flied out to center field scoring Mott on the sacrifice fly.  Tuskegee starter Reginald Hollins (0-1) retired the next ASU batter holding ASU to a 1-0 advantage.

Two innings later Tuskegee's Chris McFadden was hit by a pitch to open the frame and advanced to second on a ground out by William Buford. Wyndal Henry lifted a fly to center field advancing McFadden to third and Hollins followed with an RBI single down the right field line to plate McFadden.

Jeremy Williams singled down the right field line advancing Hollins to third, before Broderick Ellis struck out ending the Tiger scoring threat and keeping the score tied at 1-1.

After a pair of scoreless innings, the Hornets broke things open with five runs in the seventh.

Riley started things off with a double down the left line and advancede to third on a wild pitch by new Tuskegee hurler Darrion Stubbs.  Lloyd Kelly reached on an error by theTU third baseman and Tyrell Tyus, who batted for Josue Quinones, singled home Riley.  Nykellan Isaac, who pinch ran for Kelly, advanced to third on the Tyus hit.

 Tyus would steal second in front of a Jorrell Fredericks grounded out that scored Isaac and moved Tyus to third.  Curtis Young drove home Tyus with an RBI single up the middle and then stole second. He then advanced to third on a balk and would cross the plate on a double by James. Drew Quinney singled home James to cap the scoring for the Hornets.

The ASU relief corps did its job in the final two innings shutting down the Tigers in order in both the eighth and ninth innings. Freshman Trent Popp and sophomore Devin Dominguez each worked a scoreless inning and recorded a strikeout.

The Hornets will next return to action on Tues., March 2, in a doubleheader against Claflin University at Paterson Field beginning at 1 p.m. ASU's series against Western Illinois slated for this weekend (Feb. 27-28) was cancelled due to scheduling conflicts.