Montgomery — Alabama State University's baseball team lost its home opener at Paterson Field Thursday, Feb. 16, falling to Miles College, 10-9. 

The Golden Bears (7-4) took the early lead, scoring twice in the first inning as Thomas Suits and Patrick Melvin both scored on walks.

In the top of the second inning, the Golden Bears added another run as Derek McElroy scored when Patrick Melvin ground out to the pitcher.

In the bottom of the second, ASU cut Miles' lead to 3-2 when Gerald Washington scored on a sacrifice fly by Drew Quinney.

Devin Dominquez blanked Miles in the third inning giving ASU an opportunity to tie the game in their third at bat. The tying run scored when Miles' first baseman misplayed a groundball by Chris Davis.

ASU took a 4-3 lead in the fourth inning. Left fielder Darrion Pedro doubled home Jordan Mims and Quinney before Pedro was tagged out at third to end the inning.

Miles retook the lead in the fifth inning, 6-4, but ASU's offense came to life in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Hornets scored three times to take a 7-6 lead.

In the top of the eighth, the Golden Bears scored twice, setting up a dramatic ninth inning.

In the ninth, Miles added two more runs to extend its lead to 10-7. But the Hornets rallied in their last at bat. A sacrifice fly by Josh Clemons brought in John Solomon, who pinch ran for Ronald James after James drew a walk. A base hit by Pedro scored Ray Pickering and to make the score 10-9. But a pop-up to second base ended the Hornets' rally.

Taking the loss for the Hornets was Ron James, who falls to 0-1 on the year.

Pedro led the ASU offense with four hits and four RBIs, while Washington and Pickering had two hits each.  Griggs knocked in three runs, Quinney drove home two runs and Clemons had one RBI.