LORMAN, Miss. | Alabama State exploded offensively Sunday afternoon, completing their first series sweep in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play with a doubleheader sweep of Alcorn State as they put up 33 runs in the two games combined.
Game One – Alabama State 16, Alcorn State 3
Alabama State (17-13, 11-4 SWAC) used 12 hits and a nine-run fourth inning to pull away from Alcorn State 16-3 in the opener. The Hornets got six innings of work from
Darrius Wright (5-1) as he scattered eight hits and allowed three runs (all earned) with seven strikeouts.
The Hornets trailed Alcorn State (8-22, 3-12 SWAC) 2-1 after three innings of play before they put up the nine run inning, using seven hits in the inning to grab a 10-2 lead. Alabama State sent 14 batters to the plate in the inning, including the first three hitters reaching base and scoring to give Alabama State a 4-2 lead, before the first out was recorded.
Alabama State used another hit in the inning – by
Chris Lewis – before three consecutive hitters reached by either a walk or hit by a pitch. The Hornets had eight batters reach in the inning, including
Ray Hernandez and
Cage Cox each picking up a pair of hits in the inning.
The Hornets added three more runs in the sixth and three in the seventh for the final margin.
In the opener, Hernandez finished 3-for-3 with four runs scored and a pair of runs batted in, while
Gustavo Rios finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored and a pair of RBI. Cox finished 2-for-4 with a pair of runs and four runs batted in, while Lewis and
Noel Cheneau each picked up a pair of hits.
Alabama State drew seven walks in the game to go along with their 12 hits, while five others reached base via hit by a pitch (
Yamil Pagan twice).
Game Two – Alabama State 17, Alcorn State 5
Noel Cheneau and
Hunter Phillips each homered, while Cheneau finished with a career-high six runs batted in for the Hornets as they set a new season high in runs. The Hornets scored six runs in the third and sixth innings for the game two victory to complete their first series sweep of the season in conference play.
Cheneau finished 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored and six runs batted in, while hitting a two-run home run. Phillips finished 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored and a three-run home run, while
Santiago Garcia finished 2-for-4 with a pair runs batted in. Hernandez finished with a pair of hits in the win, while the Hornets drew 11 walks off of five Alcorn State pitchers.
Joseph Estrada finished game two 1-for-1 with three runs scored and a run batted in, while drawing three walks and getting hit twice in the game.
Cristopher DeGuzman finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored after drawing a pair of walks.
Gage Dollar (3-2) picked up the win as he worked five innings and allowed five runs – four earned – off of nine hits, while striking out eight. Alex Castro worked the final two innings of scoreless relief for the Hornets.
Alabama State returns to action Tuesday night, hosting South Alabama at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 6 pm, and the game will be carried on the Hornet Sports Network.
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