Box Score MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Bethune-Cookman scored eight runs through the first four innings and held off a rally from Alabama State, winning 11-5 at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex on Friday in the first game of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) series. The loss was the first at home for the Hornets since February 25 against UT-Martin and was the first conference loss for Alabama State at home.

Alabama State (22-17, 13-4 SWAC) sits atop the East Division by two games over Bethune-Cookman (19-22, 13-6 SWAC) and Florida A&M (19-23, 13-6 SWAC) with the loss.

Corey King (Lithonia, Ga.) finished the night 2-for-4 for the Hornets, while five others picked a hit each in the loss. Breon Pooler (Huntsville, Ala.) got the start and was lifted in the fourth for Kyler McIntosh (Columbus, Ind.) with runners at first and third. He finished the night working three-plus innings and allowed seven runs (seven earned) on five hits, suffering his first loss of the season. McIntosh went 4.0 innings allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits before being lifted for Sebastian Colon (Juana Diaz, PR), the third of four pitchers used by the Hornets including Ricardo Rivera (San Juan, PR).

Four different players picked up multiple hits for Bethune-Cookman, while Louis Lipthratt (5-3) picked up the win, working 5.0 innings and allowing five runs (all earned) on six hits.

How It Happened

• T2 | Bethune-Cookman got on the board first after a lead-off walk to Irvin Escobar before Brian Perez connected on his second home run of the season down the left field line to drive in a pair before Malik Stephens doubled home a pair with a double to left center (4-0, Bethune-Cookman).
• T4 | Jeremy Garcia drove home Brian Pena with a triple down the right field line before Stephens lifted a sacrifice fly to left for another. The Wildcats kept the inning going with a single by Garcia before the ball went under the glove of the outfielder to advance him to third, scoring on a Christopher Patterson double to left that added the final run of the inning (8-0, Bethune-Cookman).
• B5 | Hunter May (Slidell, La.) singled to shallow left to score a pair of runs to trim the deficit (8-2, Bethune-Cookman).
• B6 | Jabronski Williams (Troy, Ala.) singled through the right side to score Trenton Jamison (Atlanta, Ga.) from second after a lead-off walk before Ian Matos (Toa Alta, PR) laid down a bunt and forced the defense to make play which resulted in a bad throw allowing Chris Lewis (Alabaster, Ala.) to score from second to trim the deficit in half. Dilan Espinal (Fajardo, PR) delivered a sacrifice fly to center to score Williams from third (8-5, Bethune-Cookman).
• T8 | Colton Olasin singled through the left side to score Garcia before Matthew Garcia singled through the left side to drive in another run (10-5, Bethune-Cookman).
• T9 | Olasin punched a single through the right side to score pinch hitter Lake Fisher (11-5, Bethune-Cookman).

Up Next
The two teams return to action in the second game of the series on Saturday night at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 6 pm (CT) and tickets are available by contacting the Alabama State Ticket Office at (334) 229-4551, visiting BamaStateSports.com, or at the gate the day of the game.

Follow the Hornets
For complete coverage of Alabama State University baseball, follow the Hornets on social media @BamaStateBB (Twitter), /BamaStateSports (Facebook), @BamaStateSports (Instagram) or visit the official home of Alabama State athletics at BamaStateSports.com.