MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Freshman Juan Cruz collected five hits and senior Randy Flores added four more to help propel the Alabama State to a 12-5 win over Mississippi Valley State at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex on Sunday.
Sophomore Alex Burden (3-1) got the win for Alabama State (22-20, ). The southpaw went six innings, giving up three runs, all of them earned, on six hits, allowing one walk and striking out six. Junior Will Smith also pitched well, going two shutout innings while allowing one hit, walking one and striking out four.
In addition to his five hits, Cruz had two home runs and five RBI to lead the Hornets. Flores added a double and three RBI to his four-hit performance as well. Senior Jack Hay also contributed for Alabama State, putting together two hits in four trips to the plate while adding three RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hornets scored in six different innings on the way to the win. Alabama State broke a 0-0 tie and took the lead for good at 1-0 in the first inning The big hits for the Hornets in the inning were a two-run single off the bat of Flores and a two-run single from Hay.
GAME NOTES
» The Hornets got two home runs off the bat of Cruz.
» Alabama State got at least four hits from both Cruz and Flores.
» Burden struck out six Delta Devils hitters.
» The Hornets power output was led by Cruz, who had two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Cruz drove in five runs for Alabama State.
» Every Alabama State starter reached base safely in the win.
» The Alabama State pitching staff combined to strike out 12 Mississippi Valley State hitters.
» Alabama State's highest scoring inning was the eighth, when it pushed four runs across.
» Alabama State grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» Five Hornets had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Hornets had a total of 18 hits.
» The Hornets out-hit the Delta Devils at an 18-8 clip.
» Alabama State went 9-for-19 (.474) with runners in scoring position.
» Alabama State pitchers faced 38 Mississippi Valley State hitters in the game, allowing six ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out 12.
» The Hornets drew five walks from Mississippi Valley State pitching.
» Cruz led the Hornets at the plate, going 5-for-5 with two home runs and five RBI.
» Mississippi Valley State was led offensively by junior Benny Hernandez, who went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
» Junior Brayden Eftink led the Delta Devils pitching staff, throwing two innings of one-run ball.
UP NEXT: Alabama State at Troy University on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Troy, Ala.
