VERO BEACH, Fla. | Juan Cruz delivered an RBI double in the 10th to help Alabama State University baseball claim a 5-4 win over Gramlbing State on Saturday at the Andre Dawson Classic.
Sophomore Alex Burden (1-0) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Alabama State (3-4). The southpaw went three innings, giving up three runs, one earned, on four hits, allowing two walks and striking out four. Sophomore Jorhan Laboy also made an impact on the mound for the Hornets, starting the ballgame and throwing six innings, giving up one run on five hits, with one walk and seven strikeouts.
In the batter's box, the Hornets were paced by senior Ali LaPread, who went 2-for-3 on the day with a double, two walks and an RBI. Sophomore Jamal George put together a standout day at the plate as well, going 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and an RBI. Freshman Juan Cruz also contributed for Alabama State, putting together one hit in one trip to the plate while adding a double and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 1-0, the Hornets first put runs on the board in the fifth inning. Alabama State got on the board thanks to George's RBI double with two outs.
The game remained tied until the very next inning, when the Hornets got going again on offense. Alabama State scored once on an RBI single off the bat of senior Jack Hay, which brought the score to 2-1 in favor of the Hornets.
Alabama State kept Grambling without a run before building their lead to 3-1 in the eighth inning.
The Tigers fought back, closing the gap to 3-2 until Alabama State added some insurance in the ninth. The Hornets scored once on an RBI single off the bat of LaPread, bringing the score to 4-2 in favor of Alabama State.
Grambling fired back to tie the ballgame at four before the Hornets reclaimed a 5-4 advantage in the tenth inning. Alabama State pushed across a run on Cruz's one-out RBI double. The score remained 5-4 for the rest of the game, as the Hornets held on for the win.
GAME NOTES
» Laboy struck out seven Tigers hitters.
» The Alabama State pitching staff combined to strike out 13 Grambling hitters.
» Alabama State's highest scoring inning was the tenth, when it pushed one run across.
» Laboy put together six innings of one-run ball for the Hornets.
» Alabama State pitchers limited Grambling to just 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
» Alabama State pitchers faced 46 Grambling hitters in the game, allowing nine ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out 13.
» The Hornets drew five walks from Grambling pitching.
» LaPread led the Hornets at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
» Grambling was led offensively by senior Cameron Bufford, who went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run and two RBI.
» Senior Mason Martinez led the Tigers pitching staff, throwing seven innings of two-run ball.
UP NEXT: Alabama State vs. Prairie View A&M on Sunday at 10 a.m. (CT).
