LORMAN, Miss. – The Alabama State baseball team was swept in its Southwestern Athletic Conference opener at Alcorn State, losing 7-6 and 7-4 at Willie McGowan Stadium.
The Hornets (8-4 overall, 0-2 SWAC) blew a 6-0 lead after 6 ½ innings in losing the opener, and got behind early and played from behind in the nightcap against Alcorn State (2-9, 2-0).
“It was a disappointing day,” head coach
Mervyl Melendez said. “We played the elements; it was cold and not a great day for baseball and we played like it. I'm disappointed we weren't stronger mentally to be able to withstand it. We have another game tomorrow and it's going to be just as cold and we need to be prepared for it. This is a sport that is played outdoors and you have to expect the unexpected. Today was an awful day of baseball overall that didn't go our way. We saw a lot of things we hadn't seen thus far. The pitching staff didn't hold a six-run lead, which had been our strength. We just have to come back tomorrow. We have a lot of other things we need to accomplish, and one day is not going to tarnish what we have done or continue to do this year.”
Richard Amion (4-for-7, three runs scored, RBI) and
Branden Castro (4-for-9, two runs scored, RBI) each had two hits in each game for the Hornets, as the teams play the final game of the series Sunday at 1 p.m. (radio on bamastatesports.com)
Game 1 - Alcorn State 7, Hornets 6: Alabama State scored a pair of runs in each of the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to take a 6-0 lead.
In the fifth, Amion's RBI single scored
Manny Rodriguez, who led off with a walk. After Amion stole second and reached third on a balk,
Richard Gonzalez' sacrifice fly gave the Hornets a 2-0 lead.
In the sixth,Castro scored on a wild pitch, and Rodriguez' RBI single scored
Leo Rojas to extend to a 4-0 lead. The Hornets extend the lead in the seventh, as Amion scored on a fielder's choice, and Gonzalez scored on a sacrifice fly by Castro.
However, the Braves rallied with four in the seventh to get back in the game. In the ninth, Alcorn was down to its last strike when Josh Powell hit a two-run triple to tie the game and later scored on a game-winning single by Alvin Jackson.
Game 2 – Alcorn State 7, Hornets 4: The Braves scored three in the third and four in the seventh to take a 7-1 lead before Alabama State rallied.
The Hornets rallied with three runs in the seventh.
Dexter Price and Castro reached on a single and walk, respectively. With one out,
Dillon Cooper's RBI double down the left field line scored Price. Pinch-hitter
Marcus Swint singled, scoring Castro. Cooper later scored on a fielder's choice but Alabama State could get no closer.
