MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Trailing by two runs with bases loaded in the ninth, Alabama State Univesrity baseball could not get the key two out hit as the Hornets fell to Southern Indiana University, 15-13, on Sunday at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.
Junior Jaxon Christensen (0-1) got the ball to start for Alabama State (1-3) and took the loss. Junior Caleb Sanders was a bright spot for the Hornets, coming out of the bullpen and throwing three scoreless innings, allowing no hits, with no walks and one strikeout.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hornets were trailing 3-0 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.
The Hornets deficit expanded to 11-1 before their offense got back on the scoreboard, cutting into that deficit in the fourth inning. The Alabama State offense exploded for five runs, highlighted by a two-run double off the bat of senior Mikel Pryor, which brought the score to 11-6 in favor of the Screaming Eagles.
Alabama State held the Screaming Eagles off the board before narrowing the gap to 11-8 in the fifth. The Hornets notched two runs when a single from senior DeMarckus Smiley scored sophomore Juan Cruz and junior Wilbert Espinal.
The Screaming Eagles expanded their lead to 15-8 before the Alabama State offense got back in gear, cutting into that lead in the eighth. The Hornets scored five runs in the inning, highlighted by a three-run double off the bat of Cruz, bringing the score to 15-13 in favor of Southern Indiana. The Hornets were unable to get any closer, as neither team scored again in the ballgame.
GAME NOTES
» The Hornets got three-hit games from both senior Kyler McIntosh and Chandler.
» Every Hornets starter reached base safely in the loss.
» Alabama State's highest scoring inning was the eighth, when it pushed five runs across.
» Four Alabama State hitters had multiple base knocks in the ballgame.
» Alabama State batters had a total of 15 hits in the game.
» The Hornets out-hit the Screaming Eagles at a 15-7 clip.
» Alabama State went 6-for-13 (.462) with runners in scoring position.
» The Hornets got three hits in five at-bats with the bases loaded.
» Alabama State pitchers faced 50 Southern Indiana hitters in the game, allowing 11 ground balls and six fly balls while striking out eight.
» The Hornets drew six walks from Southern Indiana pitching.
» Cruz led the Hornets at the plate, going 2-for-5 with a double and three RBI.
» Southern Indiana was led offensively by sophomore Cameron Boyd, who went 1-for-2 with a home run and two RBI.
» Freshman Sage Stout led the Screaming Eagles pitching staff, throwing one shutout inning.
Alabama State takes on the University of Alabama at 3 p.m. on Wednesday at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
