MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama State University baseball team will conclude the regular season with a pair of mid-week games, first on Tuesday at home against Jacksonville State, and on Wednesday at Troy.
The Hornets (27-23) are riding the wave of a three-game win streak and have won 7 out of their last 10 games. Alabama State enters fresh off a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) sweep of Alcorn State over the weekend as the Hornets used just four pitchers and got complete games by
Tyler Howe and
Burke Echelmeier.
Alabama State opened the weekend series with an 8-3 win over Alcorn State as Howe entered the night just six strikeouts shy of the ASU career record book. He finished with seven in the win, while
Ray Hernandez accounted for five RBIs with a pair of home runs. The Hornets picked up a 12-3 win on Saturday as Echelmeier registered seven strikeouts and on Sunday, Alabama State capped off the season sweep of the Braves with a 10-2 victory.
The Hornets finished SWAC play at 18-6 and earned the No. 2 seed for the conference tournament that will be played May 17-21 in New Orleans (La.). By virtue of being the No. 2 seed from the East Division, Alabama State will face the No. 3 seed from the West, Prairie View A&M. Tournament play begins May 17 from Wesley Barrow Stadium and first pitch is set for 9 a.m.
Before Alabama State turns its attention to the conference tournament, the Hornets will meet Jacksonville State on Tuesday and wrap up a three-game season series with the Gamecocks.
In the previous two meetings against Jacksonville State, the Hornets have edged the Gamecocks by one run (6-5 and 4-3).
Jacksonville State (25-21) went 3-2 last week, including taking two of three from Morehead State in Ohio Valley Conference play. The Gamecocks, who have won three out of their last four, will look to stop a three-game Alabama State win streak on Tuesday night.
Troy (26-21) was in action over the weekend and took two-of-three from Appalachian State at home. The Trojans are 2-2 in their last four games, including a 4-3 loss to Jacksonville State on May 3.
In the only previous meeting this season, Troy picked up a 6-4 victory over Alabama State on April 11 in Montgomery. The Trojans led 3-1 after five innings and added an insurance run in the ninth to hold off the Hornets.
Alabama State wraps up their 2017 home campaign on Tuesday night at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex against Jacksonville State. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
For more information on Alabama State University baseball, follow us on Twitter @BamaStateBB and like us on Facebook.
