MOREHEAD, Ky. | Alabama State scored three runs in the fourth, but it wasn't enough as Morehead State scored five unanswered runs to sweep the midweek series over the Hornets with a 7-4 victory at Allen Field Wednesday afternoon.
After Morehead State jumped ahead with a pair of runs in the second inning, Alabama State (11-11) put three on the board in the top of the fourth inning to take their first lead. After the first two batters of the inning were retired,
Chris Lewis drew a walk that forced Morehead State (16-5) to make a pitching change in the inning.
After Lewis stole second,
Derrick Dennis laced a double over left fielder Jake Hammon to the wall to score Lewis off of reliever Zack Smith to trim the lead to 2-1.
Cristopher DeGuzman, the next hitter in lineup, hit a double high off the 40-foot wall in right to score Dennis and tie the score at 2-all. The Hornets took the lead as
Oscar Prioleau laid down a bunt just to the right of Smith, but the pitcher threw it away at first to allow DeGuzman to score and give the Hornets a 3-2 lead.
That lead was short lived, however, as Morehead State was able to get three back in the bottom of the fourth inning on three hits off Alabama State starter
Alexander Castro (0-3). They added two more in the bottom half of the fifth inning to push the lead to 7-3.
Alabama State got one on the board in the ninth when
Santiago Garcia reached on an infield single, and came around to score courtesy of another Morehead State error for the final margin.
Castro suffered the loss, working 4.0 innings and allowing five runs (all earned) off of seven hits while recording four strikeouts.
Channing Walker, one of three pitchers used on the night, came in to log 3.2 innings and allow a pair of runs (both earned) off of two hits with seven strikeouts.
AJ Stinson came on to record the final out against the only batter he faced.
Meanwhile, Smith (1-0) picked up the win in relief as one of five pitchers used by the Eagles on the day. Morehead State had three players with multiple hits led by Ryan Layne who finished 3-for-4; while Alabama State was held to five hits on the day.
Alabama State continues their road swing this week, beginning a three-game series at Jackson (Miss.) State in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6 pm, with the pregame show beginning at 5:45 pm on the Hornet Sports Network.
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