MONTOMERY, ALA. | Alabama State baseball split a doubleheader. with Eastern Kentucky, winning 12-0 before dropping the nightcap 14-7 on Saturday at Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.
GAME 1
MONTOMERY, ALA. | Esaid Pena and Jaxon Baptist combined to toss a shutout on Saturday as the Alabama State Hornets blanked the Eastern Kentucky Colonels 13-0.
Pena (1-0) started and picked up the win for Alabama State (2-0), going six shutout innings while giving up two hits, walking one, and striking out two. Baptist was dealing out of the bullpen as well, going one shutout inning, allowing one hit, walking none, and striking out one.
At the plate, the Hornets were led by A. Malpass, who went 2-for-4 on the day with a double, a walk, and three RBI. Miguel Oropeza went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, and two RBI. Devin Chandler also contributed for Alabama State, putting together one hit in two trips to the plate while adding two walks and two RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hornets took the lead for good in the second, scoring for the first time in the inning.
The Hornets then tacked on runs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, with their biggest output coming in the fifth when they scored seven times. The big hits in that inning were a two-run single off the bat of F. Santana and a two-run single from Chandler.
GAME NOTES
» Pena and Baptist combined to throw a three-hit shutout.
» Every Alabama State starter reached base safely in the win.
» Alabama State's highest scoring inning was the fifth, when it pushed seven runs across.
» The Hornets had control of the rest of the game after moving ahead of the Colonels 3-0 in the bottom of the second.
» Pena put together six innings of scoreless ball for the Hornets.
» Four Hornets had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Hornets outhit the Colonels at a 13-3 clip.
» Alabama State went 8-for-16 (.500) with runners in scoring position.
» Alabama State pitchers limited Eastern Kentucky to just 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.
» Alabama State pitchers faced 27 Eastern Kentucky hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and 10 fly balls while striking out three.
» The Hornets drew five walks from Eastern Kentucky pitching.
» Malpass led the Hornets at the plate, going 2 for 4 with a double and three RBI.
» Eastern Kentucky was led offensively by D. Alvarez, who went 1 for 3.
GAME 2
MONTGOMERY, Ala. | An explosive offensive output was not enough for Alabama State on Saturday. The Hornets put up seven runs but could not hold the Eastern Kentucky Colonels at bay and were bested 14-7.
Trey Power (0-1) started and took the loss on the mound for Alabama State (2-1). Jacob Loeffler was a bright spot out of the bullpen, going one shutout inning without allowing a hit.
Offensively, the Hornets were paced by T. Callaway, who went 1-for-4 on the day with a walk and an RBI. F. Santana furnished a noteworthy day at the dish as well, going 1-for-4 with an RBI. A. Espaillat also contributed for Alabama State, putting together one hit in four trips to the plate while adding an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 4-0, the Hornets first put runs on the board in the first inning.
The Hornets' deficit grew to 5-3 before their offense got back on the scoreboard, tying the score in the second inning. Alabama State managed to push across two runs in the inning, which brought the score level at 5-5.
Eastern Kentucky broke that tie and grabbed a 12-5 lead moving into the seventh, when Alabama State closed the gap to 12-7. The Hornets were unable to get any closer, as Eastern Kentucky added two runs to their tally on the way to a 14-7 final.
GAME NOTES
» Alabama State's highest scoring inning was the first, when it pushed three runs across.
» Alabama State went 4-for-11 (.364) with runners in scoring position.
» Alabama State pitchers faced 55 Eastern Kentucky hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out seven.
» T. Callaway led the Hornets at the plate, going 1 for 4 with an RBI.
» Eastern Kentucky was led offensively by D. Littlefie, who went 3 for 5 with a double and three RBI.
» J. Price led the Colonels pitching staff, throwing four innings of five-run ball.
Alabama State return to action against the University of Alabama on Tuesday at 4 p.m.
