MONTGOMERY, Ala. | With two outs in the bottom of the 15th inning, Alabama State head coach
Jose' Vazquez dialed up the small ball, and
Yamil Pagan executed the squeeze to perfection, to score
Cage Cox from third for the 12-11 win at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex Friday night.
Alabama State (18-15, 12-4 SWAC) found itself down after a five-run fifth inning by Alabama A&M, and trailed going into the bottom of the ninth by three (9-6). The Hornets were down to their last two outs when
Chris Lewis singled to put runners at first and second in the inning, before
Hunter Allen delivered a three-run home run to left to tie the game at 9-all and send it to extra innings.
Alabama A&M scored a run in the 10th inning to go up 10-9, however, Alabama State scored a run on an RBI single by Cox to tie it in the bottom half of the inning. The Hornets tied it again in the 14th inning on a sacrifice fly from
Ray Hernandez, to push the game to the 15th tied at 11-all.
After Alabama A&M was shut down in the top half of the frame with a runner at third, the Hornets responded in the bottom when Cox led off the inning with a double to center. He went to third on a sacrifice bunt by
Chris Lewis, before a fly out by
Hunter Allen set the stage for Pagan who promptly laid down a bunt and beat the throw to first for the game-winning hit.
Ivanniel Vazquez (2-4) picked up the win with two innings of relief as he gave up one run off of three hits. He was one of four pitchers used by Alabama State on the night, including
Chase Laney (4.2 innings) and
Terrell McCall (3.1 innings) out of the bullpen.
Alabama State pounded out 13 hits, including a pair from Hernandez, Cox, Lewis and Allen; while
Joseph Estrada connected on his second home run of the season.
The two teams continue the series Saturday afternoon at 1 pm at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex, with the game carried on the Hornet Sports Network.
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