PINE BLUFF, Ark. | Luke Parmentier and Juan Cruz combined for seven RBI propel Alabama State Unviersity baseball to a 14-3 run-rule win over the the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday.
Will Smith (1-0) got the win out of the bullpen for Alabama State (12-16, 5-3). The right-hander went three shutout innings, giving up two hits, no walks and striking out four. Freshman Jacob Loeffler also pitched well, going one shutout inning without allowing a hit, walking none and striking out two.
Parmentier had four hits that included a double, a home run, a walk and three RBI. Cruz put together a standout performance at the plate as well, going 3-for-5 with a home run, a walk and four RBI. Kameron Douglas also chipped in for Alabama State, putting together three hits in four trips to the plate while adding a double, a triple, a walk and two RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hornets were trailing 3-0 in the second inning when they first put runs on the board. Alabama State's offense started clicking and put up four runs, including a one-run walk off the bat of junior Wilbert Espinal.
The Hornets then held the Golden Lions scoreless before getting back on the board the very next inning. Alabama State brought home a pair, with one run driven in by Cruz's single, which brought the score to 6-3 in favor of the Hornets.
Alabama State held UAPB without a run before building their lead to 8-3 in the fifth inning. The Hornets added two to their tally on Cruz's two-run homer to left.
Alabama State held the Golden Lions scoreless before their offense got in gear the next inning. The three-run frame for the Hornets was punctuated by a two-run homer from Parmentier. bringing the Alabama State advantage to 11-3.
The Hornets held UAPB scoreless before building on their lead to 14-3 the following inning. The score remained 14-3 for the rest of the game, as the Hornets coasted to the win.
GAME NOTES
» Parmentier compiled four hits on the day for Alabama State.
» The Hornets had both Parmentier and Douglas smack multiple extra-base hits in the ballgame.
» Cruz drove in four runs for Alabama State.
» Alabama State's highest scoring inning was the second, when it pushed four runs across.
» The Hornets had control of the rest of the game after jumping ahead of the Golden Lions 4-3 in the top of the second.
» Five Hornets had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Hornets had a total of 16 hits.
» The Hornets out-hit the Golden Lions at a 16-8 clip.
» Alabama State went 6-for-20 (.300) with runners in scoring position.
» Alabama State pitchers limited UAPB to just 1-for-9 (.111) with runners in scoring position.
» Parmentier led the Hornets at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a double, a home run and three RBI.
» UAPB was led offensively by senior Gavin Terry, who went 3-for-3 with a triple, a home run and an RBI.
» Junior Harish Balachand led the Golden Lions pitching staff, throwing one inning of two-run ball.
Alabama State and UAPB wrap up the three-game series with a single game on Sunday at 1 p.m.
