OXFORD, Ala. | Alabama State and Jacksonville State were locked in a battle for just over seven innings, before the Gamecocks were able to pull away for a 10-5 non-conference victory at Choccolocco Park in Oxford Tuesday night.
Alabama State (20-16) took an early lead on a leadoff home run from
Joseph Estrada, before Jacksonville State came back to tie the game in the bottom of the first inning. They were able to add four more runs over the next couple of innings to take a 5-1 lead.
The Hornets pulled to within a pair at 5-3 in fourth inning, before
Gustavo Rios tied the game in the bottom half of the inning. After a
Ray Hernandez single and stolen base, Rios blasted a pitch over the right center field wall to tie the game at 5-all. The Gamecocks were able to take a 6-5 lead, before adding four more in the eighth highlighted by a three-run home run by Taylor Hawthorne.
Hernandez and Rios each finished with three hits on the night, while Estrada added a pair in the loss.
Cage Cox added a pair of hits in the loss.
Channing Walker (0-3), one of three pitchers used by Alabama State, worked 4.2 innings of relief and allowed three runs off of four hits with seven strikeouts. He came on relief of Alex Castro, who made his first career start and lasted 2.2 innings with a pair of strikeouts.
Jacksonville State (19-14) used six different pitchers on the night, scattering 11 hits. Tyler Wilburn picked up the win, working one inning and allowed a pair of runs off of a pair of hits. Andrew Naismith started his first career game and went three innings, allowing one run off of three hits with five strikeouts.
Alabama State returns to action Wednesday at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex. First pitch is set for 6 pm and the game can be heard on the Hornet Sports Network. Admission is free to all home games at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.
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