MACON, Ga.| Juan Cruz belted a two-run home run in the eighth inning to lift Alabama State University basebll to a 7-5 win over Mercer University on Tuesday.
Junior Shadai Colon (1-0) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Alabama State (7-11). The right-hander went three innings, giving up two runs, both of them earned, on one hit, allowing three walks and striking out five. Junior Esaid Pena also made an impact on the mound for the Hornets, starting the ballgame and throwing five shutout innings while allowing one hit, with one walk and one strikeout.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hornets got on the scoreboard first, starting in the third inning. Alabama State scored twice, with one run coming across on senior Kyler McIntosh's single.
The Hornets then held the Bears scoreless before expanding their lead in the sixth inning. Alabama State picked up a run on sophomore Quentin Jenkins' one-out solo home run off of sophomore Jackson Gaspard, which brought the score to 3-0 in favor of the Hornets.
Mercer narrowed Alabama State's lead to 3-2 before the Hornets stretched the advantage to 5-2 in the seventh inning. McIntosh's run-scoring single highlighted a two-run output in the frame for the Hornets.
The Bears then tied the ballgame at five before Alabama State fought back to reclaim their advantage in the eighth inning. The Hornets scored twice on sophomore Juan Cruz's two-run homer, bringing the score to 7-5 in favor of Alabama State. The score remained 7-5 for the rest of the game, as the Hornets held on for the win.
GAME NOTES
» Cruz picked up three base hits in the game for Alabama State.
» Colon struck out five Bears hitters.
» Every Alabama State starter reached base safely in the win.
» Alabama State's highest scoring inning was the eighth, when it pushed two runs across.
» Alabama State grabbed the lead at 2-0 in the top half of the third and never lost that advantage.
» Six Hornets had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Hornets had a total of 15 hits.
» The Hornets out-hit the Bears at a 15-5 clip.
» Alabama State pitchers limited Mercer to just 1-for-5 (.200) with runners in scoring position.
» Alabama State pitchers faced 37 Mercer hitters in the game, allowing nine ground balls and 12 fly balls while striking out six.
» The Hornets drew five walks from Mercer pitching.
» Cruz led the Hornets at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI.
» Mercer was led offensively by junior Zach Thomas, who went 1-for-1 with a home run and two RBI.
Alabama State opens Southwestern Athletic Conference play against Southern University on Friday in Baton Rouge, La.
