MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Tyler Howe pitched a complete-game two-hitter and Joseph Estrada drove in three runs as the Alabama State University baseball team cruised to a 10-0 win in seven innings during the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) series opener on Friday night at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.
 
"We scored runs early with two big innings and we got a little complacent with the at-bats," Alabama State head coach Jose` Vazquez said. "Bottom line is that we got to come out tomorrow with high intensity. They (Alcorn State) are coming to come out ready to play tomorrow and Sunday. We've got to enjoy this one for a little bit, but we've got to be ready for tomorrow."
 
Howe (4-3) pitched his second complete-game of the season to earn the win. He fanned a season-high 10 batters and walked four in 7.0 innings.
 
"I worked hard during the week to get prepared for this start and all my pitches were working well," Howe said. "Hunter (Allen) and I were on the same page early and he did a great job behind the plate. All I can really talk about is that zero spot in the errors column. We played great defense tonight and that was huge for us."
 
Alabama State (12-15 overall, 8-2 SWAC) opened the scoring in the first inning as Diandre Amion reached on a base hit to left center to begin the frame and Carlos Ocasio drew a walk. Cage Cox flied out to center as Amion tagged and advance to third. Gustavo Rios, who went 3-for-3, followed with a single through the left side to plate Amion and Ocasio. Estrada, who went 2-for-3, belted a shot to right center and was out of the box running as Rios scored and Estrada rounded the bases for an inside-the-park home run to give the Hornets a 4-0 lead.
 
The Hornets added to the lead in the second inning with four runs on four hits and took advantage of one error to extend the advantage to 8-0.
 
Joshua Dunson doubled down the left field line to start the second. Dunson stole third and scored on an error. After an Ocasio walk, Cox doubled to left to plate another ASU run. Rios singled through the left side as Cox advanced to third. Cox scored on a sacrifice fly and Rios came around to score on a double down the right field line by Estrada.
 
Alabama State plated one run in the fifth as Ocasio singled to left and Cox followed with a base hit to right with two outs. Rios drilled a shot to center that just missed a three-run homer as he doubled to score Ocasio and give the Hornets a 9-0 lead.
 
ASU put the game away in the sixth as Edgardo Rivera led off the inning with a double off the wall in right and scored on a base hit up the middle by Amion.
 
The Braves (7-18, 3-7) were shut down offensively, as Der'Vincent Hamilton and Patrick McMahon accounted for the two hits.
 
Regynold Johnson (0-3) pitched 4.0 innings and surrendered eight runs on nine hits with five walks and two strikeouts. Tyler Smith pitched the final 2.0 innings in relief.
 
Alabama State resumes its three-game SWAC series on Saturday against Alcorn State. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.
 
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