MONTGOMERY, Ala. | A seven-run eighth inning propelled Alabama State baseball past Texas Southern 10-7 at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex on Friday.
The Hornet were down 7-3 in the bottom of the eighth before scored seven runs, five with no outs to erase the deficit and take the lead for good.
Luke Parmentier's RBI single got the scoring tarted followed by a two-RBI single by Kyler McIntosh and an Kelvin Agosot RBI to knotted the game 7-7.
ASU took the lead on an Isaiah Landry single and added two runs on an Juan Cruz single to cap the eighth inning scoring.
Sophomore Jafet Martinez (6-3) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Alabama State (22-21, ). The right-hander went four innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on four hits, allowing no walks and striking out three.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hornets were trailing 3-0 in the second inning when they first put runs on the board. Alabama State plated two runs off of Texas Southern pitching, one of which was driven in on a run-scoring double off the bat of junior Wilbert Espinal.
The Hornets deficit grew to 5-2 before their offense got back on the scoreboard, cutting into that deficit in the fifth inning. Alabama State scored once on an RBI single off the bat of junior Kameron Douglas, which tightened the Tigers lead to 5-3.
Texas Southern expanded their lead to 7-3 before the Alabama State offense got back in action, overtaking the Tigers to grab a 10-7 advantage in the eighth. The Hornets bats heated up in the inning, scoring seven runs, including a two-run single off the bat of sophomore Juan Cruz and a two-run single from senior Kyler McIntosh. The score remained 10-7 for the rest of the game, as Alabama State held on for the win.
GAME NOTES
» Junior Jorhan Laboy struck out six Tigers.
» Every Alabama State starter reached base safely in the win.
» The Alabama State pitching staff combined to strike out 12 batters.
» Alabama State's highest scoring inning was the eighth, when it pushed seven runs across.
» Cruz, McIntosh, Douglas and Parmentier had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» Alabama State went 6-for-16 (.375) with runners in scoring position.
» The Hornets drew five walks from Texas Southern pitching.
» Cruz led the Hornets at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI.
» Texas Southern was led offensively by junior Evan Joubert, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI.
» Senior Calvin Mcclendon led the Tigers pitching staff, throwing seven innings of three-run ball.
Alabama State and Texas Southern continue the series with a single game on Saturday at 6 p.m.
