MONTGOMERY, Ala. | After 305 pitches between the two teams, it took just one pitch in the bottom of the 10th inning to
Ray Hernandez for Alabama State to claim a series win over Jackson State with a 9-8 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) victory Sunday afternoon.
After Jackson State (13-6, 6-3 SWAC) tied the game in the top of the eighth inning on a solo shot by Wesley Reyes over the left field fence, the two teams went quietly to force the game into extra innings. In the top half of the 10th inning, Jackson State was able to get a runner on against
Chase Laney (4-0) but couldn't push a run across.
Then it turned to Alabama State in the bottom of the frame, already with a pair of walk-off wins this season, and for the second time this week they were able to walk off the field on a home run. Following a
Cage Cox pop up behind second that was fielded by Reyes, Hernandez stepped to the plate against Jose Tirado and promptly hit the first delivery he saw over the scoreboard in left center field for the win.
The hit was the fifth home run for Hernandez this season, and was one of two hits on the day for the senior third baseman.
Alabama State (12-8, 6-3 SWAC) now tied with Jackson State atop the East Division through the first three weekends, jumped on top with a three-run second inning that was highlighted by three doubles in the inning – one each from
Hunter Allen, Hernandez and
Chris Lewis. The double by Hernandez drove in a pair, before Lewis drove in Hernandez for a 3-1 lead after Jackson State scored in the first.
The Tigers were able to score a pair of runs in the third and one in the fourth to take a 4-3 lead, before Alabama State answered with five more in the fourth. The inning started with a leadoff walk to
Cage Cox, who would come around to score after a fielding error by Jackson State and an infield bunt by Lewis got him to third. He would score on an RBI single by
Cristopher DeGuzman, before
Hunter Phillips drove in Hernandez for a 5-4 lead.
Joseph Estrada had a pair of runs batted during the inning to conclude the scoring in the fourth.
Jackson State was able to chase Alabama State starter
Gage Dollar in the fifth with three runs, before
Britt Buckelew came in to hold the Tigers to just one run off of three hits in 3.2 innings pitched. Laney came on and went the final 1.2 innings of scoreless relief, and allowed just one hit in the inning.
The bottom third of the order – Hernandez, Lewis and DeGuzman – finished 8-for-10 on the day with five runs scored and five runs batted in on the day. Hernandez finished 2-for-4 with three runs scored and three runs batted; while Lewis and DeGuzman each went 3-for-3 in the victory. Estrada picked up a pair of hits for the Hornets, as he finished the day 2-for-5 with a pair of runs batted in.
Alabama State returns to action Tuesday against Morehead State. The game was originally scheduled to take place in Kentucky, but due to the weather up north, it has been moved to the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 4 pm, and the game can be heard on the Hornet Sports Network.
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