ITTA BENA, Miss. – Alabama State hit a season-high six home runs in a 28-1 win in seven innings at Mississippi Valley State, completing the three-game sweep to remain unbeaten in Southwestern Athletic Conference play.
Dillon Cooper had his first-career two-homer game, scored twice, and drove in a career-high five runs to lead the six-homer onslaught as Alabama State (26-14 overall, 18-0 SWAC), the now three-time defending SWAC East Champions, scored 10 or more runs for the fifth straight conference game and 15th time overall.
Carlos Ocasio homered for the 12th time this season, the most by a Hornet since joining the SWAC in 1982. Ray Hernandez homered for the ninth time this season, and Hunter Allen had a career-high four hits, including a home run for the second straight game in scoring a career-high four runs. Ryan Thompson came off the bench to hit a three-run homer and drive in a career-high four runs.
"It was a great performance by the hitters," said Alabama State head baseball coach Mervyl Melendez said of his team that outscored the Delta Devils 50-1 this weekend. "They were locked in today."
The Hornets hit back-to-back homers in the first inning. Ocasio's two-run homer to center field was followed by Cooper's solo shot to left center for a 3-0 lead.
Alabama State broke it open with a 15-run fourth with 10 hits in the inning. Hernandez hit a two-run homer to left center, scoring Chris Biocic who led off with a single. It was one of seven run-scoring hits in the inning. Yamil Pagan's two-run double down the left field line scored Eriq White and Oscar Prioleau to give the Hornets an 8-0 lead. After Hunter Phillips was hit by a pitch, Ocasio singled to left to score Pagan. Cooper followed with a three-run homer, scoring Phillips and Ocasio for a 12-0 lead. With one out, Allen hit a two-run homer to score Biocic who had walked for a 14-0 lead. Following walks to Prioleau and Pagan, Phillips doubled to score both runners. After a walk to Ocasio, Cooper drove in his fourth run of the inning with an RBI double, scoring Phillips. Biocic, who reached base three times in the inning, singled to score Ocasio for an 18-0 lead.
"We have seen Dillon get more and more comfortable at the plate, and he had a solid weekend offensively," said Melendez of Cooper, who went 7-for-10 this weekend with five runs scored, two doubles, two home runs, and nine RBI. "His confidence level is very high right now."
Hunter McIntosh (6-2) pitched five scoreless innings, allowed just two hits with one walk and struck out four to earn the win as Hornet starting pitching did not allow a run this weekend, as the Delta Devils (6-30, 4-17) scored sixth-inning run today.
Alabama State returns to action Tuesday hosting Jacksonville State at 6 p.m. at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.
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