MONTGOMERY, Ala. |  Alabama State University baseball dropped a 3-1 deicsion to the Univeristy of Southern Indiana in the season opener for both teams on Friday at the Wheeler-Watkins  Baseball Complex on Friday.

Junior Esaid Pena (0-1) got the ball to start for Alabama State (0-1) and took the loss. The right-hander went five innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on three hits, allowing two walks and striking out four. Junior Jorhan Laboy was a bright spot for the Hornets, coming out of the bullpen and throwing four innings, giving up one run on two hits, with two walks and three strikeouts.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Hornets were trailing 1-0 in the second inning when they first put runs on the board. Junior Devin Chandler came across to score the lone run of the inning for Alabama State and get them on the board. Southern Indiana then scored two times over the remaining seven innings to break the tie and grab the 3-1 win.

GAME NOTES
» Alabama State's highest scoring inning was the second, when it pushed one run across.
» Alabama State pitchers limited Southern Indiana to just 1-for-10 (.100) with runners in scoring position.
» Alabama State pitchers faced 39 Southern Indiana hitters in the game, allowing 12 ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out seven.
» Chandler led the Hornets at the plate, going 1-for-4 with a triple.
» Southern Indiana was led offensively by junior Patrick McLellan, who went 1-for-4 with an RBI.
» Sophomore Aaron Rubio led the Screaming Eagles pitching staff, throwing three scoreless innings.

Alabama State and USI will play a doubleheader on Saturday starting a 1 p.m. before closing out the four game series on Sunday at 1 p.m.