MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Alabama State will play their home finale Tuesday night at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex, hosting Jacksonville State to close their season series and games against in-state opponents.
Alabama State (21-19) enters the week after dropping their Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) series to Jackson State over the weekend, although they were able to salvage a game three victory, 14-6 to walk out tied atop the East Division of the conference with the Tigers – each with one conference series remaining.
The Hornets are off from conference competition this week, and they open a four-game week with Jacksonville State. The two teams met earlier this season, one week ago in Oxford (Ala.), with the Gamecocks winning 10-5 as they were able to pull away with four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. In that contest the offense was provided by
Joseph Estrada with a lead off home run, and
Gustavo Rios with a two-run blast. Jacksonville State used six pitchers to keep Alabama State off balance for most of the night, while
Channing Walker (1-3) suffered the loss in relief for the Hornets.
Alabama State comes in hot offensively, as they are hitting .343 as a team over the last 13 games this season, and have outscored their opponents 130-115 during that time. Alabama State has eight different players hitting .300 or better during that stretch, with one just below the mark at .296.
Gustavo Rios leads the team in hitting during the stretch, hitting .511 with 23 hits in 45 plate appearances. He also has six extra bas hits and has driven in 19.
Hunter Allen is hitting .425 with a pair of doubles and three home runs (12 RBI), while
Ray Hernandez is hitting .393 and
Cage Cox .377.
During the same stretch, Alabama State has collected 169 hits (one less than their opponents), however, they have walked 66 times and been hit by a pitch 27 other times during the last 13 games.
Joseph Estrada has led the team during the stretch as he has walked 11 times and been hit another six; while
Cristopher DeGuzman has been walked 11 times and
Gustavo Rios 10.
Jacksonville State (22-14) will send redshirt freshman Sean Rape (1-0, 4.57 ERA) to the mound against a starter yet to be named by Alabama State head coach
Jose' Vazquez.
First pitch is scheduled for 6 pm, and the game can be heard on the Hornet Sports Network beginning with the pregame at 5:45 pm with Darrell Dapprich. Admission is free for all home games at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.
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