HUNTSVILLE, Ala. | Miguel Oropeza drove in four runs to help propel Alabama State baseball past the Alabama A&M Bulldogs 12-1 on Saturday.
Jorhan LaBoy (5-4) got the win for Alabama State (17-16, 7-7). The left-hander went six innings, giving up one run on four hits, allowing one walk and striking out five. Jacob Loeffler also pitched well, going one shutout inning while allowing one hit.
Oropeza went 2-for-4 with a double and a home run in addition to his four RBIs for the Hornets. Devin Chandler put together a standout day at the plate as well, going 2-for-3 with a triple and three RBIs. Fabian Santana also chipped in for Alabama State, putting together three hits in three trips to the plate while adding a triple, a walk and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hornets got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the top of the first inning. Alabama State scored twice in the inning on back-to-back run-scoring doubles from Oropeza and Niguel Jenkins.
The Bulldogs failed to push any runs across before the Hornets offense got back to their scoring ways the next inning. The Alabama State offense exploded for five runs, highlighted by a three-run home run off the bat of Oropeza, which brought the score to 7-0 in favor of the Hornets.
Alabama State kept Alabama A&M scoreless before expanding their lead to 9-0 the following inning. The Hornets picked up two runs in the frame, punctuated with an RBI triple off the bat of .
Alabama State held the Bulldogs scoreless before building on their lead in the fifth inning. The three-run fram for the Hornets was puncuated by a two-run triple from Chandler. bringing the score to 12-0 in favor of Alabama State. Alabama A&M put one run on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Hornets still coasted to the 12-1 win.
GAME NOTES
» Fabian Santana picked up three base knocks in the game for Alabama State.
» LaBoy struck out five Bulldogs hitters.
» The Hornets power output was led by Oropeza, who compiled two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Oropeza drove in four runs for Alabama State.
» Alabama State's highest scoring inning was the second, when it pushed five runs across.
» Alabama State grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» LaBoy put together six innings of one-run ball for the Hornets.
» The Hornets out-hit the Bulldogs at an 11-5 clip.
» Alabama State went 7-for-11 (.636) with runners in scoring position.
» Alabama State pitchers faced 24 Alabama A&M hitters in the game, allowing nine ground balls and three fly balls while striking out five.
» Oropeza led the Hornets at the plate, going 2 for 4 with a double, a home run and four RBIs.
» Alabama A&M was led offensively by Brycen Hammonds, who went 2 for 2 with an RBI.
» Daveyon Lavender led the Bulldogs pitching staff, throwing one shutout inning.
Alabama State and Alabama A&M play the final game of the series on Sunday at noon.
