JACKSONVILLE – The Alabama State baseball team erased a five-run deficit to win at Jacksonville State 8-7 Wednesday night at Rudy Abbott Field.
Trailing 6-1 after four innings, the Hornets (24-11) scored three runs in the fifth inning and three in the sixth to regain the lead. In the fifth, Alabama State had five straight singles to lead off the inning.
Joseph Estrada singled to left, before
Ray Hernandez and
Cesar Rivera hit bunt singles to load the bases. P.J. Biocic singled to left field, scoring Estrada, ahead of
Chris Biocic's single to center, scoring Hernandez and Rivera to cut the Hornet deficit to 6-4.
In the sixth with one out,
Gustavo Rios walked, and
Joseph Estrada was hit by pitch. Hernandez launched a three-run homer, his first career blast, to left on a 3-2 pitch to give the Hornets a 7-6 lead.
Alabama State added an insurance run in the eighth on a wild pitch and throwing error, scoring pinch runner
Tyler Bender.
The Gamecocks (19-16) added a run in the eighth but could get no closer.
Armando Ruiz struck out two in the ninth, including the final out with two on, to get his sixth save as the Hornets swept the season series from Jacksonville State 3-0.
P.J. Biocic (2-for-5, 1 R, 1 RBI) extended his on-base streak to 31 games,
Waldyvan Estrada (1-for-5, 1 RBI) extended his on-base streak to 21 games,
Chris Biocic (2-5, 2 RBI) extended his on-base streak to 20 games, and Rivera (2-for-4, 1 R) extended his hitting streak to 17 games.
Alabama State returns home to host Alcorn State in a three-game SWAC series in a Saturday doubleheader and Sunday single game, with first pitch both days at 1 p.m. at the Wheeler Watkins Baseball Complex.
