MADISON, Ala. | Alabama State moved one step closer to the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) East Division crown with a 16-5 victory over Alabama A&M on Thursday night at James Clemens High School. Alabama State (29-22, 20-7 SWAC) has a three-game lead over both Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman after the Wildcats win. The Hornets can clinch the outright championship with a win on Saturday.
Ian Matos (Toa Alta, PR) led the Hornets on the night, finishing 3-for-4 with five RBI and four runs scored and a pair of home runs.
Corey King (Lithonia, Ga.) finished 3-for-4 with four RBI and a pair of runs scored with a home run and a pair of doubles, while
Jabronski Williams (Troy, Ala.) finished 3-for-5 with three runs scored and a double.
Dilan Espinal (Canovanas, PR) finished 3-for-6 with a pair of runs scored and a double, while
Chris Lewis (Alabaster, Ala.) finished 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI and
Cristopher DeGuzman (Fajardo, PR) 2-for-4 to lead the Hornets 19-hit attack.
Breon Pooler (Huntsville, Ala.) picked up the win in his final start in his hometown to move to 9-2 on the season. The SWAC Preseason Pitcher of the Year went 6.0 innings and allowed two runs (two earned) in five hits with nine strikeouts.
How It Happened
- T2 | Matos singled to short to drive in Dilan Espinal (Canovanas, PR) before King doubled to center to drive in Matos and Williams for the early lead (3-0, Alabama State).
- T3 | Lewis singled home Hunter May (Slidell, La.) to extend the lead (4-0, Alabama State).
- B3 | Chandler Stocking drove in a run on an RBI groundout (4-1, Alabama State).
- T4 | Matos hit a solo shot followed by a solo shot by King, before Lewis drove home a run with a sacrifice fly (7-1, Alabama State).
- T6 | Christian Lopez (San Diego, Calif.) singled to right center to drive in a run before Williams singled to right center to extend the lead. The inning continued with a three-run home run by Matos (12-1, Alabama State).
- B6 | Jalen Ford drove in a run with a sacrifice bunt (12-2, Alabama State).
- B7 | Nemo Wright drew a bases loaded walk to put the Bulldogs on the board (12-3, Alabama State).
- T8 | King doubled home a run before DeGuzman drove in Matos with an infield single. The inning continued with a double by May and a single by Espinal to drive in Runs (16-3, Alabama State).
- B8 | Dillon Roop singled to right center to drive in a run, while Teddy Bridges singled to right center for the final run (16-5, Alabama State).
Up Next
The two teams meet in the second game of the series on Friday at 6 pm, with the final game on Saturday at 2 pm.
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