LORMAN, Miss. – The Alabama State baseball team won its final road Southwestern Athletic Conference series, winning the last two games at Alcorn State.
After dropping game one of Saturday's doubleheader 5-3, the Hornets won the nightcap 11-3 before winning Sunday 12-1 in seven innings at McGowan Stadium.
"Alcorn State always plays us very tough," head coach
Mervyl Melendez said. "I'm very happy to come out of here winning the series. That's ultimately what we want to do, to win series against our conference opponents, especially after losing the first game of the series and having good performances on the mound and by our hitters."
Alabama State (28-13 overall, 16-2 SWAC) continues its six-game road trip Tuesday at UAB at 6:30 p.m. at Regions Field before games Wednesday and Thursday at Florida A&M.
Hornets 12, Alcorn St. 1 (7 innings): Tyler Howe allowed just two hits in five innings, and
Emmanuel Marrero homered and drove in four runs in the series finale.
Howe (4-0) did not allow a hit until the fifth, yielding one run, walking two and striking out a career-high six.
"Tyler did an amazing job," Melendez said. "He made quality pitches, kept them off balance, and located the ball very well. He only allowed one run, and I was very proud of his effort. When you have a good pitching performance, the hitters usually rally behind the pitcher and they did a good job as well."
Leading 3-0 after four innings, the Hornets scored a season-high nine runs in the fifth while taking advantage of two Alcorn State errors.
Dexter Price led off by reaching on an error, stole second, and advanced to third on a flyout.
Raul Perez singled to right field to score Price.
Einar Muniz was hit by a pitch, advancing Perez to second base.
Richard Amion then singled to center, scoring Perez and advancing Muniz to third. Amion then stole second base, and both Muniz and Amion scored on a wild pitch for a 7-0 lead.
With two out,
Waldyvan Estrada walked ahead of Marrero's homer to left, his first of the season from the right side.
Richard Gonzalez walked, Price was hit by a pitch, and
Dillon Cooper walked to load the bases. Perez then reached on an error, allowing Gonzalez and Price to score. Muniz was hit by a pitch to reload the bases, and Amion's walk scored Cooper giving the Hornets a 12-0 lead.
Saturday Game 1 – Alcorn State 5, Hornets 3: Estrada hit a two-run homer in the first inning, and Price hit a solo home run in the seventh. However, five Alabama State errors led to four unearned runs for the Braves.
Saturday Game 2 – Hornets 11, Alcorn State 3: Muniz hit a three-run home run and tied a career-high with four hits, and Estrada drove in four runs as
Joseph Camacho improved to 7-1 this season.
Muniz' three-run homer to left field in the third was part of a five-run inning that gave the Hornets a 9-1 lead.
Camacho went seven innings, allowing eight hits and three runs, with no walks and striking out seven in winning his fifth straight decision.
