MONTGOMERY, Ala. | After giving up five runs in the first inning, Alabama State battled back to tied the game in the fourth before South Alabama pulled away for an 18-7 run-rule victory over Alabama State.
Alabama State fell behind 7-1 before coming to the plate in the third inning when they were able to put five of their own on the board. The Hornets used a two-run single by
Chris Lewis to score
Gustavo Rios and
Cage Cox, before
Noel Cheneau delivered a three-run double to trim the lead to 7-6.
The Hornets were able to tie the game in the fourth on a
Cristopher DeGuzman single to left that drove in Cox to even the score at 7-all. But that's when South Alabama erupted for seven runs off the Hornets in the fourth inning as Alabama State used three pitchers to get out of the inning.
South Alabama (18-13) used home runs from Brendan Donovan and Paul Russo to put seven runs on the board, as Donovan hit a grand slam and Russo a three-run home run for the final result.
Cheneau finished the night 2-for-4 with four runs batted in (pushing his two-game total to 10), while Cox finished 2-for-5 with a pair of runs scored. Lewis (2-for-3) and DeGuzman (2-for-4) were the only other Hornets to pick up multiple hits in the loss, while
Joseph Estrada walked three times and
Hunter Allen was hit a pair of times.
Alexander Castro (0-1) suffered the loss, working 3.2 innings out of the bullpen and giving up seven runs (six earned) on three hits with three strikeouts. He came on in relief of
Channing Walker in the first, as Walker went 0.2 innings and allowed five runs – four earned – on three hits, while walking three.
Alabama State will face Mississippi State (17-16), facing the Bulldogs for the first time in school history, in the MAX Stingfest at Montgomery's Riverwalk Stadium with first pitch scheduled for 6 pm Wednesday night.
The Hornets will send
Ivanniel Vazquez (1-3, 4.71 ERA) to the mound against the Bulldogs, who enter the week following their series win over Ole Miss last weekend. Jake Mangum leads the Bulldogs at .326 on the year with 12 doubles and a pair of triples this season. Josh Hatcher is hitting .297 with three doubles and three home runs this season for Mississippi State.
Tickets are still available for the MAX Stingfest by calling 334-323-2255 or visiting BiscuitsBaseball.com. The game will be carried on the Hornet Sports Network.
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