ITTA BENA, Miss. – A nine-run sixth inning, all with two outs, led the Alabama State baseball team to a wild 15-11 win at Mississippi Valley State Sunday to sweep the three game series.
Cesar Rivera and
Waldyvan Estrada each hit three-run homers, while
Yamil Pagan hit a solo homer in the inning as Alabama State (23-11 overall, 12-3 SWAC) won its eighth straight game.
Trailing 8-2 in the sixth inning with two outs, P.J. Harris singled through the left side.
Manny Rodriguez walked and
Joseph Estrada was hit by pitch to load the bases. Pinch-hitter
Gustavo Rios hit a two-run single to left on an 0-1 pitch, scoring pinch-runner
Ivanniel Vazquez and Rodriguez cutting ASU deficit to 8-4.
From there, Alabama State launched an aerial assault.
Cesar Rivera, who worked the count from 0-2 to 3-2, hit a three-run homer to straight away center field on the seventh pitch of the at bat to cut the deficit to 8-7. P.J. Biocic then singled to right field, ahead of
Chris Biocic's single to right.
Waldyvan Estrada, who also battled back from an 0-2 to 3-2 count, hit a three-run homer to left field on the seventh pitch of the at-bat to give the Hornets a 10-8 lead.
Yamil Pagan followed with a solo homer to left field on a 1-1 pitch to complete the inning, giving Alabama State an 11-8 lead.
"We put in a pinch-runner for Harris down 8-2, and I'm not sure if it was the right move or not, or if I just had a feeling, but I know we needed to score at least one run," Alabama State head coach
Mervyl Melendez said. "After that, one thing happened after another. We got a couple of base hits, guys got on base and three home runs later, that told the story. It was a matter of the guys battling back and having good at-bats when they counted. We stranded a few base runners early. We were able convert in the sixth inning, all with two outs, which says a lot about this team."
The top of the order was big again for the Hornets, as hitters 1-5 combined for 12 hits, nine runs scored, and 11 RBI. Rivera (3-for-4, 2R, 4 RBI) extended his hitting streak to 16 games, P.J. Biocic (3-6, 1R, 2 RBI) extended his on-base streak to 30 games and his hitting streak to 10,
Chris Biocic (2-5, 2R) extended his on-base streak to 19 games, and
Waldyvan Estrada (2-for-5, 2R, 3 RBI) extended his on-base streak to 20 games. Pagan (
The big inning was reminiscent of the seven-run ninth inning at Troy, erasing a one-run deficit in a 9-3 win. Today, down six on the road, looking to sweep a conference divisional foe, the Hornets trailed by six runs after three innings, and had just two hits through 5 2/3 innings before the big inning unfolded.
"We all know the conference games mean more than non-conference games," said Melendez, whose team gained a game on second-place Alabama A&M, which lost Sunday at home to Alcorn State. "We've got to be able to win in conference play, especially on the road. We're happy to come out with three victories. Heading into midweek play, we leave here with a lot of confidence, especially offensively."
The Hornets return to action Tuesday at Auburn at 6 p.m., with the live radio broadcast on bamastatesports.com.
