Hunter McIntosh threw six shutout innings, while P.J. Harris and Chris Biocic combined to drive in seven runs as the Alabama State baseball team beat Mississippi Valley State 10-3 Monday afternoon.
 
The Hornets (7-6 overall, 2-1 SWAC) won the final two games of the series over Miss. Valley State (2-8-1, 1-5) at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex as Alabama State moved over .500 for the first time this season.
 
"Little by little, we are inching our way there," Alabama State head coach Mervyl Melendez said. "The goal is not so much the record, as it is winning every game that we play. We don't look at the record, but how we play the game and what we need to do to win every time."
 
Cesar Rivera got the Hornets started in the first with a double to right field, P.J. Biocic was hit by pitch, and Einar Muniz reached on a throwing error to load the bases. Chris Biocic's sacrifice fly scored Rivera for a 1-0 lead. After Waldyvan Estrada was hit by pitch to reload the bases, Harris walked to score P.J. Biocic. Hunter Allen's sac fly scored Muniz to give the Hornets a 3-0 lead.
 
Leading 5-0 in the sixth, Alabama State added three additional runs in the sixth. Joseph Estrada walked, and after a fly out, P.J. Biocic was hit by pitch. Einar Muniz doubled to left field, scoring Joseph Estrada and moving P.J. Biocic to third. Chris Biocic's sac fly again scored P.J. Biocic, and Waldyvan Estrada's RBI single scored Muniz for an 8-0 ASU lead.
 
That would be more than enough for McIntosh (1-0), who tied a career high in innings pitched (six) and strikeouts (seven), allowing just three hits and two walks in throwing 91 pitches.
 
"I thought he did a very good job today," Melendez said. "The key for him is throwing strikes. His stuff is good enough he can get people out if he throws strikes. He worked ahead in the count most of the time, got in trouble a little bit, but made good pitches when he had to."
 
In the eighth with one out, Muniz singled up the middle. With two outs, Waldyvan Estrada walked and both players moved up to third and second, respectively, following a wild pitch. Harris then doubled to right center, scoring Muniz and Estrada for a 10-1 Hornet lead.
 
Harris' four RBI set a career high, as he joined Rivera, Muniz and Joseph Estrada with two hits apiece, while Muniz scored three times.
 
"I was pleased with the offense, but I thought we could have done a little better," said Melendez of his team, which stranded nine runners on base. "At times, I didn't think we took good at bats, and we have to work on that this week. However, anytime you score 10 runs, you have to be pleased with that effort."
 
Alabama State returns to action this weekend in a three-game SWAC series at Alcorn State, with Saturday's doubleheader and Sunday's single game starting at 1 p.m.

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