NEW ORLEANS – Dillon Cooper's two-home run, seven-RBI night powered the Alabama State Hornets to a 27-9 win over Southern in the opening round of the 2016 SWAC Tournament.
 
Cooper's performance was the biggest in a night of nights for the Hornets, who scored 27 runs for the second time this season in a five home run night. Ray Hernandez homered twice, including a grand slam and drove in six as the Hornets (35-15) advanced to Thursday's 6 p.m. winner's bracket game against Alcorn State, an 8-7 winner over Grambling.
 
Every Hornet starter reached base at least once and scored at least two runs as eight Hornets combined for 19 hits as the five home runs is one shy of the most hit in a game this season. The 27 runs was one shy of the Hornets' 28 runs scored against Mississippi Valley on April 24.
 
After Southern (12-31) scored three times in the first, the Hornets got on the board with one in the home first before the first of two nine-run innings. Diandre Amion, who went 4-for-6 with four runs scored and four RBI, hit a two-run single to tie the game at 3-3. Cooper then hit a two-run double down the left field line to put the Hornets in front to stay, 5-3. Hernandez followed with a two-run homer to left, as the trio of 2-run hits led to a 10-3 lead after two.
 
In the third, Eriq White's three-run homer to right field as part of the four-run inning extended the lead to 14-3.
 
After Southern scored three runs in the fifth without benefit of a hit to cut the lead to 14-6, the Hornets responded with four in the next at bat. Cooper's three-run homer to right was the big blow as Alabama State extended the lead to 18-6.
 
In the sixth, Yamil Pagan's two-run single and Hernandez' grand slam highlighted the second nine-run inning of the night as the Hornets scored 20+ runs for the third time this season.
 
Joseph Camacho (10-0) remained unbeaten, allowing eight hits (seven singles) and six runs while walking four and striking out two.