TROY - A seven-run ninth inning rally lifted the Alabama State baseball team to a 9-3 win at Troy Tuesday night and gave the Hornets a season sweep of the series for the first time.
Trailing 3-2 in the ninth,
Gustavo Rios led off with a walk, and moved to second on a fielder's choice sacrifice bunt by pinch hitter
Kevin Olmeda, ahead of pinch hitter
Joseph Estrada's walk to load the bases. With one out, P.J. Biocic drilled a bases-clearing double down the left field line to put Alabama State ahead to stay, 5-3.
The Hornets went small ball after the three-run double.
Yamil Pagan reached on a bunt single, as Biocic scored on a throwing error on the play to extend to a 6-3 lead.
Chris Biocic then reached on an infield single before a bunt single by
Waldyvan Estrada reloaded the bases.
Hunter Allen laid down a sacrifice bunt, and was safe on the play on a throwing error, as Pagan scored the fifth run in the inning. Pinch-hitter
Sebastian Rivera's two-run single down the left field line scored
Chris Biocic and
Waldyvan Estrada for the final margin.
"Our focus in the ninth inning was great," Alabama State head coach
Mervyl Melendez said. "It all started with Gustavo's at-bat and continued throughout the entire inning. This was a great team victory."
Tyler Howe got a no-decision in the start, throwing five innings, allowing seven hits and three runs, with two walks and a career-high nine strikeouts.
"Tyler pitched very well," Melendez said. "He battled tonight, and gave us a chance to win. I'm very proud of him."
The Hornets scored in the first on a one-out RBI double by Pagan, scoring P.J. Biocic who singled. Troy (15-15) scored two runs in the second inning, and one in the third to take a 3-1 lead. Rios' solo home run, his second of the season, in the fourth inning cut the Alabama State deficit to 3-2, which the score remained until the ninth.
The Hornets return to action at home Friday and Saturday in a three-game weekend series against Savannah State. Friday's game begins at 6 p.m., with Saturday's doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.
