ATLANTA, Ga. | Jamal George had two of Alabama State's five home runs to lead the Honrets to an 11-8 win over Southern University in an elimination game of the 2024 SWAC Baseball Tournament on Thursday.
Junior Jose Almazan (4-5) started on the mound and picked up the win for Alabama State (29-26). The right-hander went five innings, giving up four runs, all of them earned, on eight hits, allowing three walks and striking out seven.
George went 2-for-4 at the plate, supplementing his two home runs with five RBIs. Senior Jack Hay added to George's awesome power-hitting performance by going 4-for-5 with a home run and two RBI. Senior Ali LaPread also chipped in for the Hornets, going 2-for-4 with a home run, a walk and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hornets got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the bottom of the first inning. LaPread put Alabama State on the board with a one-out solo home run off senior Drew Lasseigne.
The Jaguars then rallied to score two runs and take a 2-1 lead before the Hornets got back on the board in the third. The Alabama State offense exploded for five runs, highlighted by a three-run home run off the bat of George, which brought the Hornets lead to 6-2.
Southern narrowed Alabama State's lead to 6-4 before the Hornets stretched the advantage to 7-4 in the fifth inning. The Hornets picked up a run on junior Kyler McIntosh's two-out solo home run off senior Jerry Burkett.
Alabama State held the Jaguars scoreless before building on their lead in the seventh inning. The three-run fram for the Hornets was puncuated by a two-run homer from George. bringing the Alabama State advantage to 10-4.
Southern got within 10-6 until the Hornets scored again in the eighth inning to stretch its lead to 11-6. Alabama State picked up a run on Hay's two-out solo home run off of senior Jaden Brasseaux. Southern put two runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Hornets still held on for the 11-8 win.
GAME NOTES
» The Hornets got two home runs off the bat of George.
» Hay collected four hits on the day for Alabama State.
» Almazan struck out seven Jaguars hitters.
» The Hornets power output was led by George, who picked up two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» George drove in five runs for Alabama State.
» The Alabama State pitching staff combined to strike out 12 Southern hitters.
» Alabama State's highest scoring inning was the third, when it pushed five runs across.
» Alabama State took the lead at 6-2 in the bottom half of the third and never lost that advantage.
» Four Hornets had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» Alabama State hitters hit five homers in the ballgame.
» Alabama State went 4-for-10 (.400) with runners in scoring position.
» Alabama State pitchers faced 45 Southern hitters in the game, allowing six ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out 12.
» George led the Hornets at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two home runs and five RBI.
» Southern was led offensively by junior Khyle Radcliffe, who went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI.
» Brasseaux led the Jaguars pitching staff, throwing one inning of one-run ball.
UP NEXT: Alabama State plays the loser of Gramgling State/FAMU on Friday at 11 a.m. (CT)/12 p.m. (ET)
