MOBILE, Ala. – The Alabama State University baseball team couldn't recover from a four-run deficit as the Hornets dropped a hard-fought 6-4 contest to South Alabama on Wednesday night at Stanky Field.
Carlos Gonzales (0-1) started on the hill for the Hornets and lasted one inning. He gave up three runs (two earned) on two hits with one walk.
Patrick Coffin matched a season-high 6.1 innings in relief as the senior left-hander gave up two runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and two walks.
Chase Laney and
Ivanniel Vazquez also pitched in relief.
South Alabama (23-15) grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as Dylan Hardy doubled to left center to begin the frame. Drew LaBounty was hit by a pitch and both runners advanced 90 feet on a wild pitch. Brendan Donovan reached on a fielder's choice as Hardy scored. Travis Swaggery singled to right center to plate LaBounty.
The Jaguars loaded the bases in the second and scored two runs on three hits to extend the lead to 4-0.
Alabama State (18-20), which saw all nine starters get a hit, picked up three runs on four hits in the fourth to cut the deficit to 4-3.
With one down in the inning,
Gustavo Rios singled up the middle and advanced to second on a base hit through the left side by
Carlos Ocasio.
Diandre Amion followed with a single through the right side to load the bases. After a strikeout by
Hunter Allen,
Edgardo Rivera drew a walk to score Rios. Joshua Duson continued the inning with a single to center as Ocasio and Amion scored.
The Jaguars picked up two insurance runs in the eighth to push the lead to 6-3.
Alabama State tried to rally in the ninth as
Joseph Estrada reached on a fielder's choice and scored on a
Cage Cox double, but
Ray Hernandez struck out to end the threat and the game.
Andy Arguelles started on the mound for the Jaguars and went 4.0 innings. He gave up three runs on six hits with four strikeouts and one walk. Tyler Perez (1-0) earned the victory in 5.0 innings of relief. He surrendered one run on five hits and fanned one.
Alabama State continues its road swing this weekend as the Hornets visit New Orleans (La.) to take on Grambling State in a three-game non-conference series at the Wilbert Ellis Field at R.W.E. Jones Park. First pitch on Friday against the Tigers is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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