Feb. 5, 2006

Final Stats

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Entering the 2006 season, Alabama State manager Larry Watkins felt his team had good hitting, decent defense and questionable pitching.

After a 16-3 loss to Western Illinois, those concerns are far from relieved. Six ASU six pitchers gave up 14 hits, walked 11 and hit six batters.

"We just couldn't get those guys out today," Watkins said. "We tried just about everyone we had but we didn't get the job done."

Even though Hornet starter Joshua Froneberger produced four hitless innings, he issued seven walks, hit three batters, tossed a wild pitch and gave up three runs. Most of the relievers didn't fare much better, though former Hornet quarterback Clinton Smith gave the team a boost with three strikeouts in two innings of work.

Alabama State (0-2) did have the lead after the first inning, thanks to a two-out, two-run double by designated hitter Corey Dauenheimer.

Western Illinois took the lead in the top of the second thanks to Froneberger's wildness. With two out, the sophomore righty walked five batters and hit two more to give the Leathernecks a 3-2 lead.

"Josh wasn't as bad as it seemed," Watkins said. "He got ahead of some guys. No one hit the ball hard off him. His control just wasn't where it has to be. It's early - he'll be just fine."

The offense kept working for Bama State with an Anthony Hall RBI single in the third knotting the score.

"You see why we put Corey into the starting lineup," Watkins said. "He can really hit. We've got a couple of other guys to get going, but the way he and Anthony hit this weekend really gives me confidence."

But the wheels fell off for the Hornets in the fifth. Reliever Juaquin Respress (0-1) gave up five runs in the frame - only two were earned - and the Leathernecks scored eight more off an assortment of ASU relievers over the next three innings to put the game away.

Western Illinois' offensive attack was led by Chris Knapp, who had three hits and three RBI. Brett Pendell (1-0) earned the win for the Leathernecks.

ASU travels to Tuskegee for a game on Wednesday at noon before returning home to host Albany State on Thursday.