MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Alabama State puts its three-game winning streak on the line in a midweek double dip against in-state foes Jacksonville State and Troy, beginning Tuesday in Oxford (Ala.) at Choccolocco Park.
Alabama State (20-15) steps out of conference play after scoring 39 runs in three games against Alabama A&M to jump to the top of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) East Division standings. However, they will step out of conference play against two teams what are playing good baseball at the same point in the season.
Jacksonville State enters the Tuesday night contest having won two out of their last three games – both against Southeast Missouri State – and enter the game hitting .265 on the season, including 93 extra base hits. The Gamecocks have connected on 57 doubles, three triples and 33 home runs on the season. Meanwhile, Alabama State enters hitting .292, after a week in which they hit over .360 as team, and have connected on 55 doubles, nine triples and 22 home runs.
Jacksonville State will send Sean Rape (1-0, 5.03 ERA) against Alabama State, while the Hornets are undecided on their starters for the week. The two normal midweek starters include
Channing Walker (0-2, 9.55 ERA) and
Ivanniel Vazquez (1-4, 5.40 ERA), although the decisions will made on game day.
Ray Hernandez leads Alabama State in hitting at .344 on the season, including a team-high 45 hits and eight home runs. He also has a team-high 31 runs batted in, slugs .573 and has stolen 11 bases in 13 attempts.
Joseph Estrada is hitting .331 on the season with 10 extra base hits – including six doubles, three triples and a pair of home runs – to go along with 34 different times he has reached base in walks or by hit by pitch.
Noel Cheneau is hitting .324 with five doubles, two triples and a pair of home runs; while
Hunter Phillips is hitting .311. A pair of freshmen round out the group above .300 this season including
Chris Lewis at .310 with an on-base percentage of .456, while
Santiago Garcia is hitting .303 on the season.
Alabama State will host Troy Wednesday night at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex, and will face Sadler Goodwin (2-2, 5.64 ERA).
Both games will be carried on the Hornet Sports Network.
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