HUNTSVILLE –
Carlos Ocasio homered twice, and
Hunter Phillips hit a three-run inside-the-park homer to lead Alabama State to a 7-3 win over Alabama A&M, completing the weekend sweep.
Ocasio hit homers eight and nine on the season, while Phillips' first-career homer helped the Hornets (19-12 overall, 12-0 SWAC) complete a weekend in which it hit 10 home runs and score 40 runs in the three-game sweep of AAMU (6-24, 3-8), as Alabama State extended its best start in SWAC play in school history.
"I believe in this team. We're very hungry and willing to do whatever it takes for the team," Alabama State head coach
Mervyl Melendez said. "The team has a positive mindset, and their energetic approach to the game is contagious."
Ocasio homered in back-to-back at-bats. Tied 1-1 in the third, Ocasio's solo homer with two outs gave Alabama State the lead for good, 2-1. In the fifth, his two-run homer to left scored
Oscar Prioleau to give the Hornets a 4-1 lead.
"Ocasio was able to take advantage of two pitches up in the zone," Melendez said. "He connected well on both home runs."
Leading 4-3 in the ninth,
Eriq White reached on a fielder's choice and
Yamil Pagan singled with two outs. Phillips hit a ball to center that got past the diving AAMU outfielder, rolling all the way to the wall for the clinching hit and knockout blow for the Hornets.
"I'm very proud of Hunter," Melendez said. "He stepped up with two outs when we really needed a hit and connected well with a breaking ball up and hit the ball in the gap for his inside-the-park home run."
Hunter McIntosh (4-1) earned the win, holding the Bulldogs two runs and seven hits, walking two and striking out six in winning his third straight decision.
"He pitched excellent," Melendez said of McIntosh who matched his season-high for victories in a season. "He was strong all game long, and gave us great innings on the mound."
Alabama State returns home Tuesday to face South Alabama Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.
