Feb. 26, 2006

Final Stats

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Alabama State hoped to open its 2006 Southwestern Athletic Conference campaign with a strong effort against Alcorn State. But a day after rain washed out the opener of their series with the Braves, it was the Hornets who appeared all wet.

Alcorn State swept ASU 11-0 and 16-5 Sunday afternoon at Peter Crump Field. The Braves used big innings in both games to finish off the Hornets.

Game one starter Joshua Froneberger was dominant through four innings, including striking out the side in the second. But the Braves figured him out in the fifth, stringing together two hits and two walks, scoring one run and loading the bases for Caleb Betschart. His three-run double to the right field wall started a seven-run rally that included a three-run homer by Marcus Davis.

Betschart was far from done. In the sixth inning he drilled a three-run homer to right field, punctuating a four-hit, 7-RBI game. That was more than enough support for Alcorn pitcher Darren Jordan, who struck out four and scattered five hits in seven shutout innings.

Froneberger recorded a season-high nine strikeouts, while first baseman Anthony Hall picked up two hits for the Hornets.

The second game started out very differently for Alabama State. The Hornets staked starter Cecil West to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, courtesy of Anthony Hall's RBI single and Furquan Shamsud-Din's two-run homer.

But the Braves slowly chipped away at the Bama State advantage. Alcorn State tied the game up with three in the fourth, then blew the game open with six runs in the top of the fifth. The big blow was a grand slam by Shawn Taylor.

Corey Daunheimer and Jake Paramore each homered for the Hornets, who are back in action Tuesday as they host Miles College. First pitch is 1 p.m. at Paterson Field.