JACKSON, Miss. | Alabama State came back to win the second game of a doubleheader after dropping the first game in the bottom of the ninth to even the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) season series with Jackson State Saturday afternoon.
The first five games of the season series with Jackson State had been decided by two runs or less, until Alabama State erupted in the final game of the series and knocked around the Jackson State pitching staff for a 14-6 victory, pounding out 20 hits in the series finale off of five Tigers' pitcher.
In the opener, Alabama State (21-19, 15-6 SWAC) scored five runs in the seventh inning to take a 10-5 lead, before Jackson State scored five in the bottom of the eighth to tie the contest at 10-all. The Hornets bounced back with three runs in the ninth to extend the lead when
Joseph Estrada doubled down the right field line to score
Noel Cheneau to push the lead to 11-10. The Hornets added another pair of runs on a
Yamil Pagan two-run single to center for a 13-10 lead.
However, Jackson State came back to score four runs in the bottom of the half of the inning highlighted by a three-run double by Wesley Reyes and a walk-off single by Dezmond Chumley for the 14-13 victory.
Alexander Castro (0-2), one of five pitchers used by the Hornets in the opener, suffered the loss after going an inning and giving up four runs – only one earned – on a pair of hits. The Hornets pounded out 14 hits in the opener, with
Ray Hernandez leading the way going 3-for-6 and five other players each picked up multiple hits. Alabama State picked up six extra base hits, including a triple from
Cage Cox and a home run from
Joseph Estrada.
The Hornets bounced back in game two as they scored two or more runs in five innings of the contest, including five in the eighth inning. After Jackson State (26-14, 15-6 SWAC) tied the nightcap at 2-all in the second inning, the Hornets pushed the lead to 4-2 with a pair of runs in the third on a double by Hernandez and single from
Cage Cox. They added three more in the fourth on RBI singles from Hernandez and
Gustavo Rios.
Jackson State cut the lead to 7-3 in the bottom of the fourth, before the Hornets another pair of runs in the fifth to extend the lead to 9-3. The Tigers added another pair of runs in the seventh to trim the deficit to 9-6 until the five-run eighth inning. Rios started the scoring with a sacrifice fly by Rios, before Cox picked up a two-run single and
Hunter Allen hit a two-run home run to cap off the scoring.
Allen finished the night 4-for-5 with a pair of runs scored and RBI, while Hernandez finished 4-for-6 (finishing the day with seven hits). Estrada and Cox each finished 3-for-5 in the game.
Channing Walker (1-3) picked up his first collegiate victory as he worked 2.1 innings out of the bullpen. He allowed a pair of runs on four hits, with three strikeouts.
Alabama State returns to action Tuesday night against Jacksonville State for their final home regular season contest. First pitch is scheduled for 6 pm at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex, with pregame at 5:45 pm on the Hornet Sports Network.
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