MONTGOMERY, Ala. --Alabama State University baseball had all nine starters reach base safely as the Hornets put nine runs on the board to beat the Texas Southern University 9-2 Saturday.
Esaid Pena (3-3) started on the mound and picked up the win for Alabama State (23-21, ). The right-hander went six innings, giving up two runs, both earned, on six hits, allowing no walks and striking out four. Will Smith tossed three scoreless innings while allowing no hits, with one walk and three strikeouts to earn the save.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hornets got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the bottom of the first inning. Sophomore Isaiah Landry came across to score the lone run of the inning for Alabama State and get them on the board.
The Hornets lost the lead they built in the first, but got back on the board in the fourth trailing 2-1. The Alabama State offense exploded for six runs, highlighted by a one-run error off the bat of junior Wilbert Espinal, which brought the score to 7-2 in favor of the Hornets.
Alabama State held Texas Southern without a run before building their lead to 9-2 in the eighth inning. The Hornets scored twice, with one run coming across on Espinal's single. The score remained 9-2 for the rest of the game, as Alabama State coasted to the win.
GAME NOTES
» Kelvin Agosto had three base knocks in the game for Alabama State.
» Alabama State's highest scoring inning was the fourth, when it pushed six runs across.
» Pena put together six innings of two-run ball for the Hornets.
» The Hornets out-hit the Tigers 13-6.
» Alabama State went 6-for-17 (.353) with runners in scoring position.
» Alabama State pitchers limited Texas Southern to just 1-for-8 (.125) with runners in scoring position.
» Agosto led the Hornets at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI.
» Texas Southern was led offensively by freshman Bryce Hughes, who went 3-for-4.
» Freshman John Moya led the Tigers pitching staff, throwing 2.1 shutout innings.
Alabama State and Texas Southern close out the series with a single game at 1 p.m. on Sunday.