LORMAN, Miss. – The Alabama State University baseball team used a five-run fifth inning to break open a close game in a 12-3 victory over Alcorn State in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) game on Saturday afternoon at Willie E "Rat" McGowan Stadium.
Burke Echelmeier (5-4) picked up his first career complete game of the season as he surrendered three runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and four walks.
After a scoreless first inning, Alabama State (26-23 overall, 17-6 SWAC) struck for three runs on three hits and took advantage of an Alcorn State error to take a 3-0 lead.
Gustavo Rios singled to right to begin the second and came in to score on
Carlos Ocasio's sixth homer of the season, a two-run blast to left center. With one out,
Ray Hernandez singled up the middle and
Eriq White drew a walk.
Joshua Dunson reached on an error to load the bases.
Joseph Estrada was hit by a pitch to bring in Hernandez.
Diandre Amion and
Cage Cox struck out to end the inning.
Alcorn State (11-30, 7-16) got a solo homer by Patrick McMahon and plated a run on a bases loaded wild pitch to cut the Alabama State lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the third.
The Hornets answered in the fourth with a run to push the advantage to 4-2.
White opened the frame with a double down the left field line and Dunson reached on an error. After a strikeout by Estrada, Amion singled through the right side to plate White from second as Dunson went from first to third on the play. Cox and Rios ended the threat with a pair of flyouts.
Alabama State exploded for five runs in the fifth.
With one down in the frame,
Chris Biocic singled to left and Hernandez followed with a double to left. Biocic came in to score on White's single to left as Hernandez moved to third and scored on Dunson's bloop single to right. Estrada followed with a double off the wall in right as White came in to score as Dunson advanced to third.
After a pitching change, Amion singled through the right side to plate Dunson and Estrada. Cox reached base with a single to right as Amion moved up 90 feet to second. However, the inning ended when Rios bounced into a double play, but the damage was done as the Hornets extended the lead to 9-2.
Alcorn State loaded the bases in the sixth but came away with just one run to cut the deficit to 9-3.
Back came Alabama State in the top half of the seventh as Amion led off the inning with a triple to right center and scored on an error to push the margin to 10-3.
The Hornets added to the lead in the ninth as Estrada was hit by a pitch and Amion doubled to right. Cox brought Estrada in to score with a sacrifice fly to left. After a pitching change, Rios singled through the right side to plate Amion from second and give Alabama State a commanding 12-3 lead.
Daniel Belmont (2-6) took the loss on the mound for the Braves. He lasted 4.1 innings and gave up nine runs (seven earned) on 11 hits with eight strikeouts and one walk. Anthony Acosta and Tyler Smith pitched in relief.
Alabama State wraps up its SWAC regular season schedule on Sunday against Alcorn State at Willie E. "Rat" McGowan Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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