NEW ORLEANS, La. – Tyler Howe struck out a career high 14 batters as the Alabama State University baseball team rallied from an early deficit to defeat Prairie View A&M, 13-5, during the opening round of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Tournament on Wednesday afternoon at Wesley Barrow Stadium.
 
The Hornets advance in the bracket to face Alcorn State, which beat top-seeded Grambling State, 7-6 in 11 innings on Wednesday night, at 6 p.m. Grambling State falls into the elimination bracket and will take on Prairie View A&M at Noon.
 
Tyler Howe (8-4), who was named the SWAC Pitcher of the Year on Monday, gave up five runs on 11 hits and walked one in eight innings pitched. Chase Laney pitched the ninth in relief.
 
Prairie View A&M (18-36) struck quickly in the top of the first as Avery Williams singled to begin the game and scored on Corbin Jamison's double to left. Jamison came in to score when Cody Den Beste singled to right, giving the Panthers a 2-0 lead.
 
Howe fanned the side in the second inning, but had to pitch around trouble, as the first strikeout of the frame allowed Jayln Baker to reach base, thanks in part to a wild pitch. However, he got Kevin Macias swinging before Tyler Gordon singled through the left side. Avery Williams struck out looking and Jamison swinging to end the threat.
 
Alabama State (29-24) rallied in the bottom of the third with four runs on five hits to grab a 4-2 advantage.
 
Joshua Dunson led off the inning with a double down the left field line and advanced to third on Joseph Estrada's base hit to right. Diandre Amion, who went 2-for-5, followed and plated Dunson with a single through the right side as Estrada stopped at second. Cage Cox struck out for the first out and Gustavo Rios, who went 2-for-4, singled to left center to score Estrada. After a balk advanced the runners a base, Ray Hernandez's slow roller plated Amion, and Rios scored on Carlos Ocasio's sacrifice fly to deep center.
 
Alabama State added to the lead in the fifth with three runs.
 
With one down in the frame, Cox singled to left center and advanced to second when Rios drew a walk. Hernandez, who went 2-for-4, followed with a base hit through the left side as Cox scored. Ocasio plated Rios with a single up the middle and Hunter Allen loaded the bases with a base hit to left. Eriq White walked to bring in Hernandez from third. Dunson and Estrada struck out to end the inning, but the Hornets extended the lead to 7-2.
 
The Panthers answered in the top half of the sixth with two runs on four hits to cut the deficit to 7-4.
 
Just as quickly as Prairie View A&M had trimmed the margin, Alabama State plated three runs in the bottom of the inning.
 
Amion led off the inning with a single to the right side and after Cox flied out to right, Rios singled up the middle. Hernandez drew a walk to load the bases. Ocasio was hit by a pitch to bring in Amion. After a pitching change, Hunter Allen, who went 2-for-4, walked to score Rios from third. White followed with a sacrifice fly to center as Hernandez scored as the Hornets pushed the advantage to 10-4.
 
Alabama State continued its offensive power as Estrada, who went 2-for-5, belted his team-high 10th homer, a solo shot to left. Amion was hit by a pitch and Cox reached on an error. After Hernandez flied out, Ocasio was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Allen followed with a base hit to right center to plate Amion and Cox as the Hornets extended the lead to 13-4.
 
The Panthers picked up a run in the eighth but that was as close as they would get.
 
Edgar Sanchez (4-6) picked up the loss. He surrendered seven runs on nine hits with three walks and on strikeout. Charles Philpott, Nic Campos and Cassity Land worked in relief.
 
For more information on Alabama State University baseball, follow us on Twitter @BamaStateBB and like us on Facebook.