ITTA BENA, Miss. – The Alabama State baseball team split Saturday's SWAC doubleheader at Mississippi Valley State, winning the first game 7-2 and losing the nightcap 4-3 at Magnolia Field.
In the opener,
Joel Alvira pitched seven strong innings, and
Richard Amion had two hits and three RBI as the Hornets (9-17, 4-4) took game one.
In the nightcap, the Hornets could not close the deal as Mississippi Valley (6-17, 6-5) scored three runs in the ninth for the victory.
“We fell short of accomplishing the mission today,” head coach
Mervyl Melendez said. “I'm disappointed with the effort. We came in here to do a job, and flat out we didn't get it done. The mindset is not there. The guys don't understand what it takes to be on the winner's side; simply disappointing.”
The teams complete the series Sunday at 1 p.m.
GAME 1: Hornets 7, Miss. Valley St. 2: Ryan Epperson's two-run single in the seventh sparked a three-run inning as Alabama State pulled away in the opener.
After Valley tied the score at 2-2 in the sixth inning,
Leo Rojas and
Emmanuel Marrero each singled with one out. Epperson then delivered the run-scoring hit to left field to give ASU the lead for good. Amion then singled to center, scoring Epperson to give Alabama State a 5-2 lead.
The Hornets extended the lead in the ninth on
Jordan Mims' two-run single to center field. Amion and Gonzalez, who scored on the play, along with Rojas, Marrero, and Epperson, each had two hits in the game.
Alvira allowed just two runs and two hits, walking four, but striking out seven.
GAME 2: Miss. Valley St. 4, Hornets 3: A double steal by the Hornets with two out broke a scoreless tie in the sixth, as Marrero stole home on the steal attempt by Epperson at second base to give ASU a 1-0 lead.
Alabama State extended its lead to 3-0 in the seventh on
Darrion Pedro's single down the right field line, scoring Gonzalez and Mims. Gonzalez went three-for-three in the nightcap.
Valley scored a run in the seventh before its ninth-inning rally. Taking advantage of a walk and error to load the bases, Luke Brumfield's single just inside the first-base line tied the game with one out. Billy Linney's two-out single to left scored Brumfield to complete the comeback.
T.J. Renda got a no-decision for the Hornets, pitching seven innings, scattering eight hits and allowing one run, walking one and striking out four.
