AUBURN, Ala. | Alabama State struck early after loading the bases in the first, but a big second inning from Auburn turned the momentum and the Tigers were able to pull away for a 13-7 victory at Plainsman Park on Tuesday night.

Adiel Melendez (Miami, Fla.) got his second mid-week start of the year after throwing a gem last week against Samford at home, however, Melendez (0-1) struggled in the second inning giving up five runs on seven hits with a pair of untimely errors by the Hornets. The sophomore went 2.0 innings and allowed seven runs (three earned) off five hits with three strikeouts.

The Hornets climbed back into the contest with a four-run sixth inning, trimming the lead to 9-6 before Auburn answered with three of their own to push the lead six. Alabama State (3-6) had their chances throughout the game, loading the bases in the first before a pair of runners were thrown out at the plate and then again loading the bases in the fifth getting one across. They would load them in the sixth and had runners in scoring position in five of the first six innings.

Alabama State had five players pick up multiple hits on the night led by Chris Lewis (Alabaster, Ala.) who finished the day 3-for-5 with a run scored and a run driven in. Four other players each picked up two hits in the loss including Corey King (Lithonia, Ga.), Angel Jimenez (Santo Domingo, DR), Cristopher DeGuzman (Fajardo, PR), and Dilan Espinal (Canovanas, PR) as Alabama State pounded out 13 hits.

How It Happened

• T1 | Alabama State took advantage of five hits in the inning when they scored the first run on a Jimenez single through the left side to score Trenton Jamison (Atlanta, Ga.) for the early lead (1-0, Alabama State).
• B2 | Auburn got on the board on a Cam Hill double to left center to tie the game before the Tigers took advantage of a fielding error on the infield when Cole Foster launched a three-run shot over the left field wall. The Tigers continued to add to the lead after another infield error and an infield hit when Ryan Dyal singled home a pair of runs through the left side, followed by a Kason Howell single (7-1, Auburn).
• B3 | Auburn adds a run on a wild pitch in the inning (8-1 Auburn).
• B4 | The Tigers were able to add a run on an RBI double by Howell to extend the lead (9-1, Auburn).
• T5 | After a walk, Hunter May (Slidell, La.) advanced to third on a Jimenez double down the left field line and later scored on a wild pitch (9-2, Auburn).
• T6 | Alabama State loaded the bases with nobody out in the inning before Lewis singled up the middle to drive in Espinal and push King to third and later scored on a wild pitch. The Hornets added two more on a DeGuzman single up the middle with two out (9-6, Auburn).
• B6 | Auburn got on the board to start the inning on bases loaded walk off reliever Payton Harris (Hattiesburg, Miss.) before pushing another run across om a catcher's interference and a wild pitch (12-6, Auburn).
• T7 | Espinal got on with a one-out double to right before scoring on a King single up the middle (12-7, Alabama State).
• B7 | Sonny DiChiara connected on his fourth home run of the season to lead off the inning (13-7, Auburn).

Postgame Notes

• Jeremy Rivera (Toa Alta, PR) made his third appearance of the season on the mound for the Hornets; however, it was the first relief appearance after a pair of Friday starts on the first two weekends.
• Nate Palmer (Deland, Fla.) made his second appearance on the mound this season, with both games coming against SEC opponents after starting against Alabama on the road.
• The seven run second inning was the most allowed by the Hornets since a six run second inning by Southern in the season opener at the Andre Dawson Classic.
• The game against Auburn is the second of the season for the Hornets against a team from the SEC (at Alabama) and will be the second this season against Auburn (April 19) on the road.
• The Hornets turned their fifth double play of the season in the sixth inning on a conventional 6-4-3 turn off the bat of Dyal. They turned their sixth of the season on 4-6-3 double play in the bottom of the eighth inning.
• Hunter Lopacki (Cottondale, Ala.) made his second appearance of the season behind the plate, coming in during the bottom of the sixth inning.
• Omar Melendez (Cayey, PR) made his second appearance of the season out of the bullpen on Wednesday night, his second game against an opponent from the SEC after appearing against Alabama.
• Alabama State senior Fred Stewart (Birmingham, Ala.) made his first appearance of the season behind the plate, and his first appearance since March 12, 2021 (vs. Bradley). He was the third catcher of the night for Alabama State.
• King and DeGuzman extended their streak of reaching base to nine games to start the 2022 season as each reached multiple times on Tuesday night, with King extending his hitting streak to nine games with a pair of hits.
• The Hornets walked eight times in the loss.

Up Next

• Alabama State stays on the road with a midweek road game at Samford on Wednesday night with the game scheduled for 6 pm on ESPN+. They return home for a three-game set on the weekend, beginning Friday night against St. Bonaventure.

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