MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama State University baseball team fell behind early and nearly rallied from a seven-run deficit as the Hornets dropped a non-conference game to Samford, 10-7, on Wednesday night at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.
"It is hard to play the game from behind," Alabama State head coach Jose` Vazquez said. "Going down 7-0, I am proud of our guys for coming back and making a game of it. Even though we were behind, we still had an opportunity in the ninth to win it with the tying run at the plate. But overall I am proud of the guys tonight for competing and coming back."
Burke Echelmeier (2-1) took the loss as he was tagged with five runs on nine hits and fanned seven in 5.0 innings of work.
Joseph Estrada,
Jon Roblez,
Austin Bizzle and
Chase Laney worked in relief.
Samford (6-5) struck first with one run in the second and added to the lead with three in the fourth, one in the fifth and two in the sixth to grab a 7-0 lead.
Alabama State (5-8) rallied and plated three runs in the bottom of the sixth to cut the deficit to 7-3.
Cage Cox, who went 4-for-4, opened the frame with an infield hit and
Ricky Perez followed with a walk. After a pitching change,
Carlos Ocasio was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Ray Hernandez cleared the bases with a double to right to trim the Bulldog lead.
The Hornets continued to rally as Alabama State plated two more runs in the seventh.
With one down in the frame,
Eriq White, who went 2-for-4, singled to center and advanced to second with a Cox base hit. Perez followed with a single to center to load the bases. Ocasio plated White with a base hit to left and Cox scored on a Hernandez groundout as the Hornets cut the deficit to 7-5.
Samford picked up three runs in the top of the ninth and Alabama State tried to rally in the bottom of the frame.
The Hornets got runs by White and Cox in the inning. Alabama State had runners on first and second with two outs, but couldn't plate another run as the Bulldogs picked up the victory.
Connor Radcliff (1-0) picked up the win in 5.0 innings. He gave up just one hit, walked three and struck out three. Kyle Stuart, Caleb Maggio, Jack Rude, Josh Rich and Wyatt Burns pitched in relief.
Alabama State opens up a three-game series with SWAC East Division leader Jackson State at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 10 in Jackson, Miss.
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