MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Alabama State got behind early to Samford and never recovered, falling 10-5 in non-conference action at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex Tuesday night.

Samford (4-3) scored in each of the first three innings to jump on top of Alabama State 4-0, including a pair of runs in the second inning with a pair of runs with the bases loaded. They would add two more in the fifth as insurance runs before Alabama State was able to get to the Bulldogs bullpen.

The Hornets were held at bay by Samford starter, Gene Hurst, until Hunter May reached on an infield single to third. Samford took advantage of three Alabama State (5-2) errors, and got to Hornets starter Ricardo Rivera (0-1) in the second inning as he gave way to Channing Walker.

Alabama State did have a big inning of their own in the loss – scoring three in the eighth by using a triple from Noel Cheneau and a two-run home run from Santiago Garcia that trimmed the deficit to 10-4. The Hornets added another in the inning on a throwing by the Bulldogs to trim the deficit to 10-5 before the inning ended.

Vital Statistics
WP – Jalen Long (1-0); 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
LP – Ricardo Rivera (0-1); 2.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 1 K
 
2B – Branden Fryman (2). 3B – Noel Cheneau (2). HR – Anthony Mulrine (3); Santiago Garcia (3). SB – Noel Cheneau (5); Josh Garris (1); Chris Lewis (3). HBP – Trevor Jurjevich (1); Anthony Mulrine; Cameron Hearn (9); Sonny DiChiara. E – Trevor Jurjevich 2 (3); Noel Cheneau (2); Branden Fryman (1); Cristopher DeGuzman (5); Matthew Rude (1); Preston Moore (1).

How it Happened
Samford got to Alabama State starter Ricardo Rivera in the top of the first inning when Branden Fryman doubled to lead off the inning. He later came around to score on a single up the middle by Brooks Carlson as he was taking third, for the 1-0 Samford lead.

The Bulldogs added a pair of runs in the second inning on Jordan Fucci based-loaded single through the right side to score Preston Moore from third for a 2-0 lead. They pushed the lead to 3-0 when Carlson hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Max Pinto for a 3-0 Samford lead.

Samford added another run off reliever Channing Walker when he walked Fucci with the bases loaded to give the Bulldogs a 4-0 lead.

Alabama State had a chance in the bottom half of the third inning after Hunter May broke up the no-hit bid with a hard hit ball to third, followed by Trevor Jurjevich getting hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with no one out. The Hornets were unable to push a run across as Pinto made a diving catch in center to rob Eriq White of extra bases.

Samford took advantage of a pair of errors and a pair of singles in the top half of the fifth inning to add two to the board, extending their lead to 6-0. The Hornets got a pair of runners on in the bottom half of the frame on a two-out walk out to Jurjevich and a single by Cristopher DeGuzman, but were unable to score.

Alabama State threatened again in the bottom of the sixth with a two-out hit by Noel Cheneau, before he stole second, and a Santiago Garcia walk but couldn't push them across. Samford added to the lead in the top of the seventh inning on a three-run home run by Anthony Mulrine, pushing the lead to 9-0.
Alabama State got on the board in the bottom of the seventh after DeGuzman reached on a fielding error by Samford and Yamil Pagan walked after fouling a pair of pitches off in a full count situation. The Hornets took advantage of a wild pitch and passed ball to trim the deficit to 9-1.

Samford added another run in the eight after Josh Garris was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a fielding error by the Hornets. He later stole third, and scored on a fielder's choice for the 10-1 lead.

Alabama State got on the board again in the bottom of the eighth after Cameron Hearn was hit by the first pitch of the inning – the ninth time he has been hit this season. That was followed by a run-scoring single from Noel Cheneau to trim the deficit to 10-2, before Santiago Garcia followed with a two-run home run to trim the score to 10-4 with no one out in the inning and forced a pitching change. They added another run on a ball hit by DeGuzman off of reliever Matthew Rude, who then threw it away at first to allow Chris Lewis to score from second – trimming the deficit to 10-5.

What's Next
The Hornets face UAB at home Wednesday night, with first pitch scheduled for 6 pm, before a three-game set to open conference play against Mississippi Valley State this weekend.

Tickets are $5 at the gate for each Alabama State home game, and season tickets remain on sale until March 11 -  contact the ticket office at 334-229-4551 for more information.

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