BIRMINGHAM, Ala. | Alabama State fell victim to the big inning Tuesday night, dropping a 15-6 non-conference game to Samford at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
 
Alabama State (14-13) dropped their fourth consecutive midweek game after defeating Samford back on March 14, and could not overcome the middle innings in which Samford was able to put up seven runs. Each time the Hornets came in and scored, Samford (16-14) had an answer.
 
The Hornets were able to get on the board in the first on an RBI single from Santiago Garcia that scored Joseph Estrada from second for the 1-0 lead, after Estrada led off the game with an infield single. Samford was able to answer with a run of their own to even the game at 1-all after one inning of play.
 
Alabama State added another run in the third when Estrada jumped on a pitch and knocked it over the left centerfield fence, his first home run of the season, to give Alabama State a 2-1 lead. They added another in the fourth on an RBI double from Cristopher DeGuzman to take a 3-2 lead.
 
But then Samford struck for seven runs over the next three innings to extend the lead, although Alabama State added a pair of runs in the top of sixth on an RBI double from Hunter Allen and an RBI single from DeGuzman to trim the deficit to 6-5. However, Samford used three of their seven runs in the middle innings to push the lead back to 9-5. Alabama State got a run in the top of the seventh when Noel Cheneau tripled to center and then scored on a wild pitch to trim the deficit to 9-6, but Samford got a grand slam off the bat of Austin Edens to push the lead to 13-6.
 
Estrada finished the day 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored, while Cheneau finished 2-for-5 with a run scored. Hernandez finished 2-for-4, while DeGuzman finished 2-4 for a pair of runs batted in. Channing Walker (0-2) suffered the loss, working four innings and allowed six runs (five earned) off of eight hits and recorded four strikeouts. The freshman was one of four pitchers used by the Hornets on the night.
 
Alabama State returns to Friday with the beginning of a three-game Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) series on the road at Alcorn State. First pitch is scheduled for 6 pm, and can be heard on the Hornet Sports Network.
 
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