Box Score The Alabama State baseball team had the lead late, but couldn't hold on in an 8-6 loss Wednesday to Samford at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.
 
The Hornets led 5-3 after seven innings, but Samford scored one run the eighth and four in the ninth to win.
 
Trailing 3-0, Alabama State (26-12) tied the game in the fifth. With two outs, Dillon Cooper singled to left, Einar Muniz was hit by a pitch, and Richard Amion walked to load the bases. Cesar Rivera singled to right field, scoring all three runners, including Amion who beat the tag to tie the game at 3-3.
 
The Hornets took the lead in the seventh. Cooper, who went 2-for-3, reached on an infield single. After pinch runner Joshua Magee moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and ground out, Rivera singled to second base, scoring Magee. Rivera later stole second, Richard Gonzalez walked, and Rivera advanced to third on a wild pitch. Waldyvan Estrada singled through the left side to score Rivera for a 5-3 ASU lead.
 
After Samford (20-13) scored in the final two innings, Alabama State ended the scoring in the bottom of the ninth on an RBI groundout by Estrada, scoring Rivera, who tied a career high with four hits, had four RBI and two runs scored.
 
Estrada had two hits and two RBI for the Hornets, who return to Southwestern Athletic Conference play in a three-game weekend series at Alcorn State. Saturday's doubleheader begins at noon, and Sunday's single game at 1 p.m.
 
                                                                                                           #gohornets#