HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Alabama State rallied from a four-run deficit to beat Alabama A&M 12-8 in 10 innings in the first of a three-game Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball series at Bulldog Field.
Alabama State trailed 8-4 after sixth innings before scoring four runs in the seventh and four in the 10th as the Hornets (14-19 overall, 8-5 SWAC) beat Alabama A&M (6-25, 1-12) for the fourth time in four meetings this season.
Leo Rojas went 4-for-6 with four runs scored and six RBI to lead the Hornets' 10-hit attack as Alabama State won for the seventh time this season after trailing in a game. Rojas had a two-run double in the seventh inning and the game-winning hit, a bases-clearing triple in the 10th, to lead the Hornets.
“He was responsible for 10 of the runs today,” head coach
Mervyl Melendez said of Rojas. “I said to him before the game 'you haven't had a two-hit game in a while.' He comes out and has his best game of the season.. He was a big part of today's victory.”
Alabama State led 1-0 after one inning, 3-2 after 3 ½ innings, and 4-3 headed to the bottom of the sixth before Alabama A&M had its big inning. Deon Hall's three-run homer in a five-run sixth put the Bulldogs ahead 8-4.
The Hornets came right back in the seventh. Rojas' one-out double with the bases loaded scored Muniz and Gonzalez to cut the deficit to 8-6. Two batters later,
Emmanuel Marrero's bases-loaded walk scored
Darrion Pedro to cut the deficit to one, and then
Jordan Mims sacrifice fly scored Rojas to tie the score at 8-8.
Alabama State scored four runs in the 10th to take the lead for good. With one out, Muniz walked ahead of Gonzalez' single through the left side. With two outs, Pedro walked to load the bases before Rojas' two-out, a bases-clearing triple to left field.
Pedro scored three runs, and Gonzalez and Rodriguez each had two hits for the Hornets. Rodriguez, who started at first base, pitched the final two innings to earn his first victory on the mound.
“This team finds a way to get it done,” Melendez said. “I was really happy with the effort, especially when we got down four runs. We could have folded, packed it in and got ready for Saturday, but we knew we just needed to keep the game within distance. We scored four runs and were able to tie the ball game and keep momentum.”
Alabama State and Alabama A&M will play a doubleheader Saturday beginning at Noon.
