NEW ORLEANS, La. | Alabama State rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth to win in walk-off fashion over UAPB, 6-5 at the Andre Dawson Classic at Maestri Field Saturday night.
Alabama State (2-0) trailed 5-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning before
Cameron Hearn reached on a fielder's choice to score
Kenny Allred to pull the Hornets to within one, before a bases loaded walk to
Santiago Garcia drove in
Chris Lewis from third to tie the score at 5-all. Alabama State was able to win the contest on a wild pitch that scored
Jabronski Williams with the winning run.
Hearn finished the day 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and a pair of runs batted in, while
Ian Matos finished the day 2-for-4. The Hornets were able to pound out nine hits, giving them 21 in two games at the plate.
Jeremy Rivera (1-0) picked up the win in relief for the Hornets, working 4.2 innings and allowing two runs off four hits with six strikeouts. He came on in relief of
Breon Pooler who logged 4.1 innings and gave up three runs (all unearned) with eight strikeouts.
The Hornets jumped ahead early on a
Santiago Garcia two-run single in the bottom of the first for a 2-0 lead, before Hearn connected on his first home run of the season – a solo shot to left – in the second for a 3-0 lead. Alabama State allowed three runs by UAPB in the fifth inning, snapping a streak of 11 consecutive innings of scoreless baseball, and another two in the eighth to fall behind 5-3.
Alabama State returns to action Sunday afternoon against Southern at 12 pm to round out play in the tournament.
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