ITTA BENA, Miss. – The Alabama State baseball team swept Saturday's doubleheader at Mississippi Valley State, winning 7-4 and 14-3 on the MVSU campus.
Alabama State (22-11 overall, 11-3 SWAC) extended its winning streak to seven games by beginning SWAC play with the road doubleheader sweep. After scoring in the first inning for the sixth straight game in the opener, the Hornets hit four home runs in the nightcap, including two by
Waldyvan Estrada. Starting pitchers
Joseph Estrada (8-0) and
T.J. Renda (3-3) each pitched seven strong innings in earning victories.
"I thought both of our pitchers threw the ball well, especially T.J.," Alabama State head coach
Mervyl Melendez said. "If not for some of the defensive mistakes we made, he may not have allowed a run. We started the day fast with a good offensive performance in game one, and we continued throughout the day. We were able to put runs on the board, and swung the bats well all day, hitting four home runs. It was a good day for our hitters as well."
P.J. Biocic extended his on-base streak to 28 games, Estrada to 19 games,
Chris Biocic to 18 games,
Cesar Rivera extended his hitting streak to 15 games, for the Hornets, who will look for the three game sweep Sunday at 1 p.m., with a radio broadcast and live stats on bamastatesports.com.
Game 1 – Hornets 7, Miss. Valley St. 4: The Hornets scored in three of the first four innings to take control. With one out,
Waldyvan Estrada singled through the left side, scoring P.J. Biocic who walked.
Yamil Pagan then doubled down the line on an 0-2 pitch, scoring
Chris Biocic and Estrada for a 3-0 Alabama State lead.
In the second,
Ray Hernandez singled with one out and moved to third on
Cesar Rivera's double down the right field line. After P.J. Biocic was hit by pitch to load the bases,
Chris Biocic's fielder's choice grounder scored Hernandez for a 4-0 Hornet lead.
Leading 4-1 in the fourth, Hernandez walked, Rivera singled through the right side, and P.J. Biocic's bunt single loaded the bases. With one out, Estrada walked to score Hernandez. Rivera then scored on a sac fly foul out by Pagan for a 6-1 ASU lead.
Camacho pitching seven innings, allowing 10 hits, three runs, with two walks and six strikeouts.
Game 2 – Hornets 14, Miss. Valley St. 3: Waldyvan Estrada's solo homer in the second inning started the scoring barrage. In the third inning,
Joseph Estrada led off the inning being hit by pitch. After a sacrifice bunt moved
Joseph Estrada to second base, Rivera's double to right center field scored
Joseph Estrada. P.J. Biocic homered to left field on a 3-2 pitch for give the Hornets a 4-0 lead. After
Chris Biocic walked and stole second,
Waldyvan Estrada homered on a 2-1 pitch to left to extended the lead go 6-0.
In the fourth with two outs, Rivera homered to right, scoring Hernandez who reached on a fielder's choice for an 8-0 Alabama State lead.
Renda pitched seven innings, allowing seven hits, two unearned runs, with two walks and six strikeouts.
