MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Diandre Amion, Cage Cox and Gustavo Rios each drove in two runs as the Alabama State University baseball team rolled past Alcorn State, 9-4, in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) game at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex on Saturday afternoon.
 
"I knew they (Alcorn State) would come out and compete better today," Alabama State head coach Jose` Vazquez said. "Their starter has done a good job for years in this conference. Bottom line is that our starting guy matched him up. Once again we had a great game defensively and I am very proud and thankful for the big time crowd that showed up. We got to finish business tomorrow."
 
Burke Echelmeier (3-3) picked up the victory on the hill for the Hornets in 6.0 innings pitched. He gave up one run on eight hits with six strikeouts and two walks. Patrick Coffin worked the final 3.0 innings in relief to pick up his second save of the season.
 
Alabama State (13-15 overall, 9-2 SWAC) picked up where they left off on Friday night as the Hornets scored two runs on two hits to grab a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
 
Amion, who went 2-for-3, led off the frame with a walk and Carlos Ocasio singled to center. Cox, who was 2-for-5, followed with a base hit to center as Amion came around to score. Rios flied to left as both runners advanced a base on the deep fly out. Ocasio scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Hernandez for the second ASU run.
 
Alcorn State (7-19, 3-8) got a run back in the top of the second with one run on three hits to cut the deficit to 2-1.
 
Alabama State answered in the bottom of the third with two outs as Joseph Estrada walked and Chris Biocic reached on an infield hit. Edgardo Rivera followed with a base hit to center to plate Estrada to give the Hornets a 3-1 advantage.
 
The Hornets added to the lead in the sixth with five runs on three hits and took advantage of one Brave error to take an 8-1 lead.
 
Biocic, who went 2-for-2, walked to begin the inning and Rivera reached on an error. With one down in the frame, Rivera scored on a base hit to right center by Amion. Joshua Dunson, who reached on a fielder's choice, came in to score on a wild pitch as Amion advanced to second. Cox followed with a double down the line in left to plate Amion with two outs. Rios followed and crushed a 1-1 pitch deep over the left field wall to clear the bases and give ASU a commanding lead.
 
Alabama State grabbed another run in the seventh as Biocic walked and advanced to second and third on wild pitches as Dunson drew a base on balls with two outs. Amion plated Biocic with a base hit to center to increase the ASU lead to 9-1.
 
The Braves picked up two runs on two hits in the eighth and added a run in the ninth, but that was as close as Alcorn State would get.
 
Daniel Belmont (1-4) took the loss in 6.0 innings of work. He surrendered eight runs (three earned) on eight hits with five strikeouts and four walks. Razedrick Winters worked the final 2.0 innings in relief.
 
Alabama State will go for its second consecutive SWAC series sweep on Sunday against Alcorn State at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex. First pitch for the series finale is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
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