MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Hunter Allen's bases-clearing double in the third capped a five-run inning as the Alabama State University baseball team cruised to 7-2 home opener victory over UAB on Wednesday night at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.
 
The win marked the first victory against UAB since April, 23, 2013 (7-1) and the first career coaching win for Hornet head coach Jose` Vazquez.
 
"The adjustments we made at the plate are the adjustments we needed to do last weekend," Vazquez said. "You could tell the guys were locked in today. All the credit goes to the guys. They wanted to go out there and compete and that's what they did from the beginning. Burke (Echelmeier) was outstanding and obviously if that's an indication of what he's going to do this year, then not only will it be a great year for him, but for us as well. He set the tempo from the beginning."
 
Echelmeier (1-0) was masterful on the mound as he scattered five hits through six innings with five strikeouts and three walks to pick up the win.
 
"The goal today was just like any start to come out and trust all the work you've done all fall and spring," Echelmeier, who threw 101 pitches, said. "I wanted to go out there and pitch my game and trust my defense and score some runs."
 
Austin Bizzle pitched three innings in relief to earn his first save of the season. He gave up two runs on four hits, with three strikeouts.
 
Alabama State (1-3) struck for five runs on four hits to grab a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning.
 
With one down in the frame, Diandre Amion, who went 3-for-5, singled to center and advanced to second on a walk by Carlos Ocasio. Ray Hernandez, who finished with two hits, followed with a double to left to score Amion. Gustavo Rios was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out. Hunter Phillips brought in Ocasio with an infield single, and Hunter Allen, who went 2-for-4, cleared the bases with a double to left center to give the Hornets a 5-0 advantage.
 
Alabama State added to the lead in the fifth with one run on one hit as Phillips was hit by a pitch to begin the inning and scored on an Allen double to left center, extending the Hornet advantage to 6-0.
 
UAB plated two runs in the top of the eighth, but Alabama State responded in the bottom half of the inning as Ocasio, who went 1-for-4, belted his first homer of the season, a solo shot to left field, to give the Hornets a  7-2 lead.
 
Adam Lamar (0-1) took the loss for the Blazers. He surrendered five runs on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Austin Thomas, Dylan Munger, Isaiah Gonzales-Montoya, Kyle Davis and Thomas Lowery worked in relief.
 
Carter Pharis and Stephen Dobbs paced the UAB offense with two hits each.
 
The Hornets get one day off before hitting the road for the next four games in Hoover, Ala., starting on Friday as Alabama State takes on Iowa and Morehead State in the Hoover Classic.
 
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