AUBURN, Ala. – Alabama State lost the first of a two-game baseball series to Auburn 7-1 Tuesday night at Plainsman Park.
 
The Hornets started fast, as Einar Muniz and Leo Rojas led off with singles. Richard Gonzalez' two-out RBI single to center scored Muniz to give ASU a 1-0 lead.
 
However, Auburn (5-4) answered with two runs in the bottom of the first to take the lead for good. The Tigers added two runs in the third, one in the fourth, and two in the eighth for the final margin.
 
“The pitchers have been competitive and competing well,” head coach Mervyl Melendez said. “We're short on numbers at that position and they are giving us all they can. However, the at-bats have been very uncompetitive. We can't have uncompetitive at-bats. We need to have a clue and do a much better job at the plate.”
 
Alabama State (1-8) did not get a hit after the first inning, and had just two batters reach base, both on walks, the remainder of the game.
 
“There's no way at this level you can win ball games when you do that,” Melendez said. “The at-bats have to be better. We played pretty good defense, we competed on the mound and made some mistakes there, but pitched out of some jams. However, the at-bats have been hurting us all year long. The stuff about being freshmen – they need to get over it.”
 
The Hornets and Tigers play again Wednesday at 5 p.m. at Plainsman Park.
 

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