MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Grambling State scored the first run of the game in the top of the first inning, but it was all Alabama State over the next seven innings as the Hornets defeated Grambling State 16-6 in seven at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex Friday night.

Alabama State (14-17) won their second consecutive contest with the win after scoring three runs in the first and five more in the second to pull away from Grambling State for the win. The Hornets tied the game on a bases loaded walk to Santiago Garcia in the bottom of the first inning, before taking the lead on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Chris Lewis and extended the lead to 3-1 on an RBI single from Dilan Espinal.

The Hornets added five more in the second inning on a sacrifice fly by Cristopher DeGuzman, before Hunter May cleared the bases with a double to left center to push the lead to 7-1. They extended the lead to 8-1 on an RBI double by Chris Lewis, before Grambling State got back on the board in the third to trim the deficit to 8-2.

Alabama State added four more runs in the fourth to push the lead to 12-2 highlighted by a two-run single by Jabronski Williams before Grambling State cut the lead in half to 12-6 with four runs in the six. The Hornets added four more runs in the bottom of the seventh and ended the game on a May single to score DeGuzman for the final margin.

The Hornets pounded out 16 hits, led by Williams who finished 4-for-4 with a pair of runs batted in and scored three more runs. Meanwhile, four other Hornets recorded multiple hits on the night including DeGuzman (2-for-4), May (2-for-5), Lewis (2-for-3) and Jayden Sloan (2-for-3).

Breon Pooler (3-2) picked up the win for Alabama State as he went 5.2 innings and allowed six runs off of five hits with 12 strikeouts (out of a possible 17 outs). Jordan Gould and Payton Harris came in for the final 1.1 innings of scoreless relief for Alabama State.

The two teams continue the series Saturday night at 6 pm in Montgomery, and due to COVID-19 protocols and socially distant seating the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex remains a Player Pass List only entry facility. All concessions remain cashless, and Alabama State University remains mask-mandatory.

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