BATON ROUGE, LA. | Alabama State University open SWAC play with a doubleheader sweep of Southern University on Friday.
GAME 1 | Alabama State 14, Southern 8
BATON ROUGE, LA. | Jan Cruz collected four hits to help propel the Alabama State past Southern Univeristy 14-8 on Friday.
Junior Jorhan Laboy (0-0) got the win for Alabama State (7-11, ). The southpaw went nine innings, giving up eight runs, all of them earned, on 12 hits, allowing one walk and striking out five.
In addition to his four hits, Cruz had a home run and two RBI to lead the Hornets. Senior Kyler McIntosh put together a noteworthy day at the dish as well, going 3-for-6 with a home run and four RBI. Junior Wilbert Espinal also chipped in for Alabama State, putting together two hits in four trips to the plate while adding a double, a home run, two walks and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 3-0, the Hornets first put runs on the board in the second inning. Alabama State hit two home runs in the inning on the way to scoring eight runs.
The Jaguars then gained ground, narrowing the lead to 8-7 until the Hornets expanded their advantage in the fifth. Alabama State picked up two runs, including one on a solo round-tripper off the bat of Espinal, which brought the Hornets lead to 10-7.
Alabama State held Southern scoreless before building their lead to 11-7 in the eighth inning. The Hornets picked up a run on Cruz's leadoff home run off freshman S. Tolbert.
Alabama State held the Jaguars without a run before their offense got back in action the next inning. The three-run fram for the Hornets was puncuated by a two-run single off the bat of McIntosh. bringing the score to 14-7 in favor of Alabama State. Southern put one run on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Hornets still coasted to the 14-8 win.
GAME NOTES
» Cruz collected four hits on the day for Alabama State.
» Laboy struck out five Jaguars hitters.
» DeMarckus Smiley and Espinal had multiple extra-base hits in the ballgame.
» McIntosh led the Hornets at the plate, going 3-for-6 with a home run and four RBI.
» Every Alabama State starter reached base safely in the win.
» Alabama State's eight runs across.
» The Hornets never tailed after taking the lead 8-3 in the top of the second.
» Five Hornets had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» Alabama State hit four homers and had a total of 17 hits.
» The Hornets out-hit the Jaguars at a 17-12 clip.
» Alabama State went 8-for-17 (.471) with runners in scoring position.
» Alabama State pitchers faced 42 Southern hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and 10 fly balls while striking out five.
» Southern was led offensively by junior catcherThibodeaux, who went 2-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI.
GAME 2 | Alabama State 18, Southern 12
BATON ROUGE, LA --Senior K. McIntosh put together a brilliant outing at the plate Friday, hitting two home runs to help power the Alabama State Hornets over the Southern Jaguars 18-12.
Sophomore J. Martinez (0-0) started on the mound and picked up the win for Alabama State (8-11, ). The right-hander went three innings, giving up three runs, all of them earned, on two hits, allowing four walks and striking out two.
McIntosh went 4-for-5 at the plate, supplementing his two home runs with five RBIs. Sophomore Juan Cruz added to McIntosh's awesome power-hitting performance by going 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI along with two walks. Junior K. Agosto also helped out for the Hornets, going 2-for-3 with four walks and two RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hornets scored in eight 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 on an RBI single off the bat of McIntosh.
GAME NOTES.
» McIntosh led the Hornets at the plate, going 4-for-5 with two home runs and five RBI.
» Every Alabama State starter reached base safely in the win.
» Alabama State grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» ASU had 20 hits and Seven Hornets had multiple hits.
» The Hornets out-hit the Jaguars at a 20-12 clip.
» Alabama State went 9-for-25 (.360) with runners in scoring position.
» The Hornets drew 19 walks from Southern pitching.
» Southern was led offensively by junior Jaylon Lucky, who went 2-for-5 with a home run and five RBI.
Alabama State and Southern close out the series with a single game a 1 p.m. on Sunday.
