MONTGOMERY, Ala.| Chris Lewis recorded his first career walk-off hit for Alabama State when he singled up the middle in the bottom of the 11th inning to help the Hornets defeat Jackson State 3-2 in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) action Saturday night at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.
With the win, Alabama State (24-20, 17-5 SWAC) ended the nation's longest winning streak – which was at 15 – belonging to Jackson State, and clinched at least a share of the East Division championship in the conference.
After tying the game in the eighth inning, Alabama State and Jackson State went scoreless until the bottom of the 11th inning.
Noel Cheneau lead off the inning with a single to left, before moving from first to third on a chopper by
Santiago Garcia to left with no one out in the inning. The Hornets kept the inning alive with a walk to
Cameron Hearn, before
Chris Lewis delivered a single up the middle on the first pitch he saw from Kevin Perez (4-3) in the at-bat for the win.
The Hornets battled from behind most of the night against Jackson State (27-19, 13-7 SWAC) after the Tigers scored in the first inning.
Yamil Pagan hit the first pitch of the bottom of the first inning off Jackson State starter Garth Cahill out of the park down the left field line for his 13th home run of the season to tie the contest.
Jackson State scored again in the third off an error to take a 2-1 lead, while Cahill kept Alabama State off-balance most of the night. He finished the night logging 7.1 innings and allowing just two runs (one earned) on just one hit.
Alabama State was able to tie the game in the eighth inning on a Pagan ground ball to short that was overthrown at first as Jackson State was attempting to turn a double play. The ball bounced off the dugout and allowed
Cristopher DeGuzman to come around and score to tie the game at 2-all.
Terrell McCall (1-1) came out of the bullpen to pick up the win, working 3.1 innings and allowing just one hit and striking out two. He was the last of three pitchers for the Hornets as starter
Darren Kelly went 7.0 innings and allowed just two runs on eight hits, while
Nate Gerard went 0.2 innings in relief.
Pagan finished the night 2-for-3, and reached base two other times after being hit by a pitch. He was the lone Hornet with multiple hits on the night, while Hearn reached base three times on the night which including a pair of walks.
The two teams meet in the series finale Sunday afternoon at 1 pm at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex on Senior Day, as the Hornets will honor their seven senior prior to the game. The game will be carried on the Hornet Sports Network, and admission is $5 at the gate for all home games.
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