MACON, Ga. – The Alabama State baseball team lost its final games of the regular season at Mercer 8-5 and 7-2 in a pair of seven-inning games at Claude Smith Field.
Alabama State (20-34) could not match Mercer's power as the Bears (31-18) hit six home runs in the doubleheader.
“We're obviously lacking in offensive power,” head coach
Mervyl Melendez said. “That was the difference in the ball games. Their guys hit for power and we don't. We're not getting how to hit, hit well and hit the ball on the barrel of the bat. The ball was flying out today. They took advantage of it and we didn't.”
Hornet pitchers walked 14 pitchers in the doubleheader, including 10 in game one.
“We didn't do a job on the mound today,” Melendez said. “The pitching has been good, but it's not going to be good all the time. The hitters are going to have to pick it up. They haven't been able to get in rhythm all year, and it hasn't been because of lack of practice. We've done this many times, and all you have to do is hit the ball on the barrel just like they did. Every team we have played has done a better job than we have offensively, and we need to get it together.”
The Hornets return to action in the SWAC Baseball Tournament Wednesday, May 16 vs. Prairie View A&M at Noon in Baton Rouge, La.
GAME 1 – Mercer 8, HORNETS 5: Alabama State fell behind 8-0 before a furious seventh-inning rally.
Darrion Pedro reached on a wild pitch after striking out to lead off the inning. After two outs, Pedro stole second and then scored on
Manny Rodriguez' single to left field. After
Emmanuel Marrero singled and
Richard Amion walked to load the bases,
Einar Muniz hit a grand slam that hit the top of the left field wall and bounced over for the final margin.
GAME 2 – Mercer 7, HORNETS 2: The Bears scored all their runs on the long ball, hitting a three-run homer in the first inning, and two-run homers in the second and third innings.
The Hornets scored single runs in the third and sixth innings.
Richard Gonzalez' double to right field scored Pedro, who led off with a double. Alabama State scored its final run on an RBI groundout by
Jordan Mims, scoring
Ryan Epperson who reached on an error.
