MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Jackson State University used a six-run eighth inning to defeat Alabama State University 8-3 at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex Sunday afternoon.
 
Trailing for most of the contest to the Tigers, Alabama State (17-19, 13-5 SWAC) scored their first run of the game off Jackson State starter Miguel Yrigoyen in the seventh inning. Joseph Estrada was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Joshua Dunson. He would score two batters later when Hunter Phillips found a gap in short right center for a single.
 
After the Hornets trimmed the lead to 2-1 heading to the eighth, Jackson State (29-11, 15-3 SWAC) scored their insurance runs off three Alabama State pitchers. Lance Briggs started the inning for the Tigers when he reached after being hit by a 0-2 pitch from Chase Laney. He moved to second after a Bryce Brown sacrifice bunt and scored on a Jesus Santana single to right center. Santana went from first to third on a Sam Campbell single through the right side, and scored a squeeze play by Jarvis Warner to extend the lead to 4-1 with Warner reaching on a throwing error.
 
Jackson State, winners of 10 consecutive games, continued the inning when Stephen Vidal connected on a two-run single to extend the lead to 6-1, before Alabama State turned the ball over to Darren Kelly. The Tigers got to the bullpen again quickly when Wesley Reyes hit the second offering from Kelly over the left field wall for an 8-1 lead, leading to Patrick Coffin coming out of the bullpen with one out in the eighth. The senior was able to close the inning without any further damage for the Hornets.
 
Alabama State mounted a comeback in the ninth when Ray Hernandez led off the inning with a double to the left centerfield gap, before Estrada was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second with no out. Hernandez came around to score when Dunson doubled to the gap in left center to trim the deficit to 8-2, and get to the Jackson State bullpen.
 
The Hornets added another run when Diandre Amion turned Warner in circles in right and eventually up against the wall off reliever Joshua Santiago for a sacrifice fly, trimming the lead to 8-3. Santiago was able to close the door for Jackson State, with back-to-back outs.
 
Brandon Caples (2-4) suffered the loss for Alabama State as he went 3.2 innings in the start, giving up a pair of runs – both earned – on four hits. He walked five and struck out four. Austin Bizzle came out of the bullpen to go 3.1 scoreless innings for the Hornets, allowing just three hits and striking out four; prior to Jackson State getting to the pen in the eighth. Coffin finished the day with 1.2 innings of scoreless relief, allowing just one walk and striking out one.
 
Ray Hernandez finished the day 2-for-4 for Alabama State, including a ninth-inning double. The Hornets had their opportunities, leaving runners on base in each of the first five innings.
 
Yrigoyen (6-2) picked up the victory working eight-plus innings, allowing six hits and two runs; while striking out one. Briggs led three Tigers with two hits each, joined by Campell and Vidal. Jackson State finished the day with 16 runners left on base, including leaving the bases loaded three times.
 
Prior to the weekend, Alabama State had won their previous 14 conference series and was swept for the first time at home since 2012 against Jackson State.
 
The Hornets return to action Tuesday night on the road against Jacksonville State, with first pitch scheduled for 6 pm.
 
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