MACON, Ga. – The Alabama State baseball team scored early and often, but it wasn't enough as the Hornets lost at Mercer 13-8 Tuesday night.
After the Hornets (26-11) fell behind 1-0 after one inning, Alabama State scored with two outs on a single through the left side by
Branden Castro, and an RBI double to left center by
Dexter Price, tying the score at 1-1.
Mercer (27-7) scored four runs in the home second before Alabama State responded with three third-inning runs.
Einar Muniz doubled down the left field line, and Amion singled to right field. With one out,
Richard Gonzalez walked to load the bases, and
Waldyvan Estrada's sacrifice fly to right field scored Muniz as Amion and Gonzalez advanced to third and second, respectively. Both runners scored on
Emmanuel Marrero's two-run single to left to trail 5-4 after 2 ½ innings.
However, Mercer scored four runs in the third to extend to a 9-4 lead.
In the fourth,
Marcus Swint led off with an infield single, stole second, and advanced to third on single to right field by Muniz. Amion's single through the right side scored Swint and cut the deficit to 9-5. Mercer responded again, scoring three times in the home fourth to extend to a 12-5 lead.
Alabama State scored twice in the fifth inning and once in the sixth. Estrada was hit by a pitch, and Marrero walked to lead off the fifth. After a sacrifice bunt from Castro and a second out on a popup, Swint doubled to left field, scoring Estrada and Marrero as the Hornets then trailed 12-7.
In the sixth,
Cesar Rivera singled to right field, and scored on a double to left field by Gonzalez as Alabama State trailed 12-8 but could get no closer.
Muniz went 3-for-4 with one run scored, while Amion and Swint each had two hits and one run scored for the Hornets, who host Samford Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.
