BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Alabama State University baseball team fell behind early and nearly rallied from a five-run deficit as the Hornets fell to Samford, 14-4, in seven innings on Wednesday night at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
 
Terrell McCall (1-5) started on the hill for Alabama State and lasted 3.0 innings. He surrendered five runs, only one was earned, on five hits with two strikeouts and two walks. Jon Roblez, Brandon Caples, Austin Bizzle and Chase Laney worked in relief.
 
After a scoreless first two innings, Samford broke the 0-0 tie in the third inning.
 
Troy Dixon reached on an error and stole second. He scored on T.J. Dixon's double to right. After a stolen base by Dixon moved him to third, he scored on a Branden Fryman single to right. With two down in the frame, Taylor Garris walked and Kevin Williams, Jr., brought Fryman in with a double down the line in right. Garris and Williams, Jr., came in to score on a double deep to the wall in center by Aryton Schafer to extend the lead to 5-0.
 
Alabama State (21-21) got a run back in the top of the fourth as Ray Hernandez, who went 2-for-4, belted his fifth homer of the season, the first since March 24, to cut the deficit to 5-1.
 
The Hornets continued to trim the margin in the sixth as Carlos Ocasio reached on an error and moved to second on a passed ball. Gustavo Rios followed and doubled down the left field line as Ocasio scored. After a wild pitch moved Rios to third, Hernandez singled through the left side to plate another run.
 
Diandre Amion walked and Chris Biocic reached on an error to load the bases. Hunter Allen's slow dribbler allowed Hernandez to score from third as the bases remained loaded. However, the Bulldogs got out of the inning with three straight strikeouts as Alabama State stranded the bases loaded, but struck for three runs in the inning and cut the Samford advantage to 5-4.
 
The Bulldogs (24-17) immediately responded in the bottom of the frame as Schafer drilled the first pitch he saw over the left center wall to push the lead to 6-4.
 
Samford, which swept the season series from Alabama State, put the game away in the bottom of the seventh when the Bulldogs loaded the bases with no outs and exploded for eight runs to win the game 14-4.
 
Hamp Skinner (1-0) made his first career start for the Bulldogs on Wednesday night. He gave up just one hit and fanned two in three innings of work. Jack Rude, Matthew Bennett, Josh Rich and Jared Brasher pitched in relief.
 
Alabama State begins a three-game Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) series on Friday at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex. The Hornets will hold Alumni Day on Saturday and conclude the weekend on Sunday with Senior Day.
 
First pitch against the Delta Devils on Friday is scheduled for 6 p.m.
 
 
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