MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Alabama State battled from behind against Morehead State most of the day until a big ninth inning by the Eagles as they fell 7-5 to the visitors in a non-conference contest at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex Tuesday night.
 
Alabama State (12-9) trailed for most of the night until they were able to get two in the bottom of the eighth inning to take a 5-4 lead. The Hornets a leadoff walk by Hunter Allen and a hit by pitch on Noel Cheneau to get the first two runners on in the inning with nobody out, and they were moved up 90 feet on a sacrifice bunt by Ricky Perez.
 
Allen came in to score on an RBI single by Ray Hernandez that dropped in front of Morehead State left fielder Eli Boggess with one out, tying the game up. The Hornets would take the lead when Gustavo Rios pinch hit for Cristopher DeGuzman and drove in Cheneau.
 
The Hornets turned to closer Terrell McCall (0-2) in the top of the ninth inning, but Morehead State led off the inning with a triple by Jake Hammon and he scored one batter later on an RBI single through the right side by Reid Leonard to tie the score up. Tyler Niemann gave Morehead State (12-9) the lead right back on a double down the right field line to score Leonard from first, and he would score on a sacrifice fly by Trevor Snyder two batters later to give the Eagles a two-run lead.
 
However, Alabama State didn't give up in the ninth.
 
Joseph Estrada and Santiago Garcia both drew walks of Morehead State's closer Dom Masullo to start the inning. They each moved up 90 feet on an Allen bunt, and then again when Cheneau was hit for the second consecutive time. After a strikeout of pinch hitter Yamil Pagan by reliever David Looney, Hernandez hit a liner to left where the Eagles had him played perfectly for the final out of the inning.
 
Channing Walker got the start, and a no-decision, going a career-high eight innings and allowing four runs – two earned – off of nine hits, with four strikeouts. Cory Conway (2-0) got the win for Morehead State as he went just 2/3 of an inning and gave up one hit, while Looney recorded his first save of the season.
 
Ray Hernandez finished the day 3-for-5 with a run scored and a pair of RBI, including his seventh home run of the season.
 
The two teams conclude the midweek series with a 1 pm first pitch at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex Wednesday afternoon. The game can be heard on the Hornet Sports Network.
 
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