JACKSONVILLE, Ala. | Alabama State fell behind early and couldn't recover, falling to Southern Illinois 13-1 on the final day of the Jacksonville State Round Robin Tournament Sunday afternoon at Jim Case Stadium.

Southern Illinois (3-0) jumped on Austin King, the Hornets' starter, with three runs in the first 1.1 innings of the contest to take the early lead. King (0-1) suffered the loss after giving up three runs on three hits and striking out two before giving way to three others including Osvaldo Mendez and Adiel Melendez making their collegiate debuts.

Mendez went 3.2, giving up four runs off of five hits, while Payton Harris came in for 2.1 innings and Melendez 1.2 to close it out for the Hornets.

Alabama State was held to four hits throughout the contest against five Southern Illinois pitchers, with four different players collecting hits. Jayden Sloan drove in the only run of the game for Alabama State with an RBI groundout in the ninth for the final margin.

The Hornets travel to Birmingham Tuesday afternoon to face Samford, with a 4 pm first pitch scheduled. Due to socially distant seating at Samford, only the first 250 fans will gain entry into the contest on Tuesday afternoon.

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