March 22, 2007

Final Stats

Even with their number one pitcher going against Jacksonville State on Thursday, it was hard to believe that Alabama State was going to break their 27 game losing streak to Jacksonville State.

After all, the Hornets had never beaten the Gamecocks and JSU pounded ASU 12-2 just over a week ago. Enter Josh Froneberger.

The preseason All-SWAC pitcher threw his best game of the year as the Hornets upset Jacksonville State 5-4 at Paterson Field.

"This is what we've been waiting for," said a jubilant Larry Watkins, ASU's head coach. "Josh deserves all of the credit; he was simply at his best today."

Froneberger finished with 11 strikeouts in 8.1 innings. He scattered 9 hits and only allowed four runs, all of them after the seventh inning.

The Hornets jumped out early when Furquan Shamsud-Din drove home John Stevens in the bottom of the first.

ASU added three more runs in the second inning as freshman Will Johnson drilled a double with the bases loaded.

Stevens gave the Hornets a 5-0 lead when he knocked in James Jordan, who had singled to start the fourth inning.

Meanwhile, Froneberger was cruising. In the seventh inning, he struck out the side, the third time he'd done that in the game.

Jacksonville State got on the scoreboard when Garrett Bass scored after leading off the eighth inning with a triple.

The Gamecocks, down to their last three outs, began a furious rally in the ninth.

Josh Sanders singled, Bert Smith doubled and Kyle McCreary walked to load the bases. Sanders scored on a wild pitch. Clyde Whittemore doubled home Smith and McCreary to pull the Gamecocks to within one at 5-4.

After he walked Allen Rose, Josh Froneberger was replaced by Marquise Blake.

The freshman hurler struck out Eric Beck, and then induced a lazy pop fly from Richard Turner that left fielder Marvin Miller ran down for the last out.

"Hopefully, our guys will now see there is no substitute for hard work," Watkins said. "While no one else has been on campus (during ASU's spring break), we have been working hard every day. It has finally paid off."

Will Johnson, John Stevens and Neal Washington each had two hits for ASU. Froneberger was credited with the win, and Blake earned the first save of his career.

The Hornets will host Fisk on Saturday. First pitch at Paterson Field is 1 p.m. Admission is free.