MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama State University baseball team couldn't rally from a five-run first-inning deficit as the Hornets dropped a 13-4 decision to South Alabama in a non-conference game on Tuesday night at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.
 
Ivanniel Vazquez (0-1) took the loss as he surrendered five runs (four earned) on three hits in just 0.2 innings of work. Patrick Coffin, Jon Roblez, Carlos Gonzales and Brandon Caples pitched in relief.
 
South Alabama (12-9) jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the opening inning after a bases loaded walk and a grand slam.
 
Alabama State (7-15) rallied with one run in the bottom of the frame as Edgardo Rivera reached on an error to start the inning. After a single by Carlos Ocasio moved Rivera to second, Cage Cox reached on an error to load the bases. Gustavo Rios followed with a sacrifice fly to right to score Rivera and trim the South Alabama lead to 5-1.
 
The Jaguars used a two-run third to extend the lead to 7-1 and pushed across two more runs in the fifth to increase the advantage to 9-1.
 
South Alabama pushed the margin to 10-1 in the top of the sixth, but Alabama State answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame as Gustavo Rios doubled down the left field line and scored on Ray Hernandez's double. Hernandez, who went 2-for-4, came in to score on a two-out double by Eriq White.
 
The Hornets plated another run in the eighth as Hernandez belted his third homer of the season to cut the Jaguar lead to 10-4.
 
But that is as close as the Hornets would get as Hunter Stokes blasted a two-run home run in the top of the ninth and Travis Swaggerty hit a solo homer to extend the lead to 13-4.
 
Andy Arguelles (2-0) picked up the victory in 4.0 innings of action. He gave up one unearned run on two hits with two strikeouts and one walk. Zach Melton, Jason Lott and Avery Geyer pitched in relief.
  
Alabama State takes to the road for its next four games, starting Friday with a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) series against Mississippi Valley State. First pitch from Itta Bena, Miss., is scheduled for 3 p.m.
 
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