Game 1 Boxscore
Game 2 Boxscore

NORMAL, Ala. – The Alabama State University baseball team salvaged a split in their doubleheader against in-state rival Alabama A&M Friday at Bulldog Field winning 5-2 after dropping the series opener 10-5.

With the split, ASU improved to 11-21 overall and 6-12 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The win also secured the Hornets a spot in the SWAC Championship Tournament slated for May 26-30 in Shreveport, La.

In the opener, Alabama A&M broke open a highly competitive game scoring nine runs in the sixth and seventh innings en route to the comfortable victory.

ASU left the bases loaded in the first inning before going down in order in the second. The Bulldogs struck first plating a run in the bottom of the second.

The Hornets evened the score at 1-1 when Kejuan Riley clubbed a solo homerun with two outs in the top of the fifth.

A&M answered with five runs in the sixth to gain the momentum The Bulldogs collected four hits in the frame and capitalized on a pair of ASU errors.

Bama State got a run back in the seventh as Riley singled home Adrian Snell. However, the Bulldogs added four more runs in the bottom of the inning putting the game out of reach.

The Hornets attempted a late rally getting three runs in the ninth but it was not enough. Lloyd Kelly delivered the key hit for ASU in the frame driving home a pair of runs while Ron James drew a bases loaded walk to force home the other run.

Riley was Alabama State's top offensive performer collecting three of the team's seven hits in the game.

In the second game, ASU rode a strong pitching performance from the duo of Devin Dominguez and James in earning a split of the twinbill.

Dominguez earned the victory on the mound allowing just two runs on eight hits in five innings of work as the starter. James followed with four innings of one-hit relief to post the save.

Riley and James again were the key offensive performers with each player finishing with a pair of hits in the contest.

ASU struck first getting a run in the top of the opening frame when Jordan Mims doubled and then raced home when a ball hit by James was misplayed the AAMU third baseman.

The Bulldogs got the run back in the bottom of the first and then tacked on another run in the third grabbing a 2-1 edge.

Bama State regained the lead in the fifth scoring two runs on a pair of A&M miscues. The Hornets added insurance runs in both the eighth and ninth innings.

Alabama A&M finished with five errors in the game resulting in four of ASU's five runs.

The Hornets and Bulldogs close their weekend series Saturday at Noon.