Tyler Howe pitched eight innings of three-hit baseball, while Hunter Allen homered to lead Alabama State to a 6-1 win over Jackson State at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.
 
Howe walked none and struck out five as the Hornets (5-5 overall, 2-0 SWAC) have taken the first two games of the SWAC-opening series from Jackson State (5-5, 0-2).
 
"I'm really proud of Tyler. I thought he was spectacular," Alabama State head baseball coach Mervyl Melendez said. "He commanded the strike zone and was able to throw all his pitches for strikes. Offensively, we were able to have some good innings, and score some runs for Tyler."
 
Tied at 1-1 after two innings, Alabama State took the lead for good in the third inning. Yamil Pagan and Joseph Estrada walked to lead off the inning. Following an out, and an infield single by Carlos Ocasio to load the bases, a sacrifice fly by Ray Hernandez scored Pagan for a 2-1 lead. Gustavo Rios' single scored Estrada to give the Hornets a 3-1 lead.
 
Leading 4-1 in the fifth, Dillon Cooper, who had three hits, singled to center. With two outs, Allen homered for the first time this season to complete the scoring.
 
Game three of the series is Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.

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