BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - The Alabama State baseball team continues its week-long road trip this weekend when the Hornets face Gardner-Webb in the first of a four-game series Friday at 5 p.m.
Hornets Baseball Gameday Central will have links to live stats for all four games, and the link for live audio to the Gardner-Webb broadcast for games Saturday and Sunday.
Alabama State (6-13) swept a two-game midweek series at Florida A&M Tuesday and Wednesday, winning 8-2 and 17-4 in seven innings. The Hornet offense had its most productive day of the season to this point in yesterday's win, recording season highs in runs scored (17) and hits (19).
“What we do know now is that we are capable, and if we make adjustments, we are capable of putting up good numbers offensively,” head coach
Mervyl Melendez said of his team in which all nine starters had at least one hit for the first time this season. “However, we still must continue to work on the little things to succeed, not only in midweek games but also perform better on the weekends. It is a good feeling, it is a good start, but we know it's a very long road ahead of us.”
Alabama State also got strong performances on the mound. Starters
Anthony Ricciardi and
Greg Matthews pitched seven innings, allowing Melendez to preserve the bullpen, which will be important with four games this weekend.
“That was huge for us in not having to utilize the bullpen,” Melendez said. “It saves the arms, and the wear and tear on the pitchers. We're excited about that, with our starters pitching well against Florida A&M.”
Gardner-Webb (10-7) of the Big South Conference is coming of an impressive 7-4 win at #4-ranked North Carolina Wednesday night.
“We followed that game last night,” Melendez said. “We know Gardner-Webb is a very good team. We scheduled tough teams and a tough schedule so that our guys understand competition will bring the best out of you, and we want to get ready for the middle and the end of the season. Being tested will get us exposure about our team, about what we can do better and what we are doing well at that time.”
The teams will play a doubleheader Saturday and a single game Sunday.
