JACKSON, Miss. | Alabama State trailed early until a four-run seventh inning propelled the Hornets to a series-clinching 7-6 victory over Jackson State in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play Sunday afternoon.
Alabama State (13-12, 8-3 SWAC) scored in the top half of the first inning for the second consecutive game as they used a two-out double by
Noel Cheneau off the top of the left field wall to score
Eriq White, putting the Hornets up 1-0.
Jackson State came right back in the bottom half of the inning to score a pair of runs on a two-run single by Jaylen Williams off of Alabama State starter
Ricardo Rivera (3-1). The score stayed that way until the fourth inning when
Chris Lewis connected on his first career home run, clearing the fence in right for the Hornets to tie the score at 2-all.
The Tigers answered in the bottom half of the fifth inning with three runs to take a 5-2 lead, before Alabama State was able to get back on the board in the sixth when
Santiago Garcia doubled home Cheneau to trim the deficit to 5-3. The score stayed that way until the seventh inning when the Alabama State offense struck.
Cristopher DeGuzman reached on a walk to lead off the inning for the Hornets, before moving to second on a wild pitch. He moved to third on a fielding error by Jackson State shortstop Wesley Reyes, before scoring on a White fielder's choice on the infield to bring the Hornets within one at 5-4. After a
Cameron Hearn walk,
Noel Cheneau blasted a pitch over the left field wall for a three-run home run to give Alabama State a 7-4 lead.
Jackson State added one more run in the bottom half of the seventh inning on a squeeze for the final margin.
Cheneau finished the day 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored and four runs batted in, while Garcia and Lewis each finished with a pair of hits for Alabama State who finished with 10 hits as a team.
Rivera picked up the win for Alabama State, working 6.0 innings and leaving with the lead. He allowed five runs (three earned) on seven hits, with four strikeouts in the game.
Jeremy Rivera came on to work 2.2 innings for the save, giving up two hits and recorded three strikeouts – all in the eighth inning.
Alabama State returns to action Tuesday at home against North Alabama, with first pitch set for 6 pm. The game will be carried by the Hornet Sports Network beginning at 5:45 pm. Tickets are $5 for all Alabama State home games at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.
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