MONTGOMERY, Ala. --Though they had plenty of opportunities, Alabama State had a hard time cashing them in, leaving 15 Hornets on base in a 9-5 defeat at the hands of Grambling State University at the Wheeler Watkins Baseball Complex on Friday night.
Jorhan LaBoy (3-2)Â took the loss, allowing six runs on 10 hits with five strikeouts. Trevor Esparza (1-1) yielded two runs off three hits with two strikeouts to pick up the win for Grambling State.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hornets were trailing 6-0 in the third inning when they first put runs on the board. Alabama State scored three times, all of them coming across on a three-run homer off the bat of Jackson Williams.
The Hornets kept the Tigers off the board before narrowing the gap further in the fifth. Alabama State brought home a pair, with one run driven in by Breydon Divine's single, which tightened the Tigers lead to 6-5. The Hornets were unable to get any closer, as Grambling added three runs to their tally on the way to a 9-5 final.
GAME NOTES
» Alabama State's highest scoring inning was the third, when it pushed three runs across.
» Alabama State left 15 runners stranded on base in the loss.
» Alabama State pitchers faced 47 Grambling hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out nine.
» The Hornets drew nine walks from Grambling pitching.
» Williams led the Hornets at the plate, going 1 for 5 with a home run and three RBI.
» Grambling was led offensively by Charles Ashe, who went 4 for 5 with three RBI.
Alabama State and Grambling State battle in game two of the three-game series on Saturday at 6 p.m.
