NEW ORLEANS, La. | Alabama State took an early lead over Grambling State, but the Tigers were able to come back with back-to-back big innings to pull away for a 12-7 victory at the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Tournament at Wesley Barrow Stadium.
 
Alabama State (28-21) scored a pair of runs in the first inning after Joseph Estrada was hit by a pitch and Yamil Pagan doubled down the left field line. Estrada was able to score from third when Ray Hernandez laced a single through the right side for a 1-0 lead. The Hornets added another run on an RBI single by Cage Cox through the right side for a 2-0 lead.
 
After Alabama State left the bases loaded in the second, Grambling State (25-24) used four hits to take the lead with a four-run third inning. They extended their lead to 8-2 with another four-run inning off of a pair of hits to chase Dalton Wilder (3-4) of the Hornets.
 
The Hornets were able to answer with four of their own in the bottom half of the fourth inning, using four hits to pull within a pair at 8-6. Hunter Phillips drew a lead off walk and was moved to second on a single by Estrada, before the Hornets loaded the bases on a single by Pagan. The Hornets cut the lead in half when Hernandez doubled down the left field line, before Cage Cox used an RBI double to the same line to cut the lead to a pair.
 
However, that was as close as Alabama State would get as the Tigers got four runs in the final three innings. Alabama State did not go away however, as they battled back in the ninth inning with Cox leading off the inning with a double down the right field line. He scored on an RBI single by Noel Cheneau to right to get the deficit to five.
 
Wilder suffered the loss, working just 3.2 innings and allowing seven runs off of five hits. He was one of three pitchers used on the night by Alabama State. Pagan finished the night with four hits as he went 4-for-5 with a pair of runs scored, while Hernandez finished 2-for-4 with three runs batted. Cox finished finished the night 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles in the loss.
 
Alabama State returns to action tomorrow afternoon at 12 noon against Prairie View A&M in an elimination game. The game can be heard on the Hornet Sports Network, beginning at 11:45 am with the pregame show.
 
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