Alabama State again got great pitching but stranded 14 runners in a 1-0 loss to Jacksonville State Wednesday night at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.
The Hornets (9-5) stranded at least two runners in the first, second, fourth, fifth, and seventh innings, leaving the bases loaded in the fifth, and runners on base in every inning except the fourth.
Jacksonville State (6-8) scored the only run of the game in the third inning on Griff Gordon's two-out single to center field, scoring Michael Bishop.
Anthony Ricciardi (1-1) stymied the Gamecock bats, allowing just four hits and one run, walked three and struck out six over eight innings.
Edgardo Rivera pitched a hitless ninth to keep the deficit intact. Defensively, the Hornets made a pair of outs at home plate, as Gonzalez tagged out JSU's Michael Bishop in the first inning trying to score on what would have been a wild pitch, and
Leo Rojas' perfect throw home on a ground ball to third, nailing Chase Silvani in the third inning.
Alabama State nearly tied the score in the fourth inning, but Rojas was thrown out at home trying to score from second base on a
Marcus Swint single.
The Hornets made their most serious threat with one out in the fifth.
Branden Castro and
Dexter Price were each hit by a pitch, sandwiched around a
Richard Gonzalez walk to load the bases. However, a fielder's choice force out at home plate and a fly out ended the threat.
In the eighth, Swint was stranded after hitting a two-out triple to left center. In the ninth, Gonzalez reach on throwing error with one out, but pinch runner
Ryan Thompson was stranded there to end the game.
Alabama State returns to action this weekend in its SWAC home opener against Alabama A&M. Saturday's doubleheader and Sunday's single game begins at 1 p.m. at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.
