MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Alabama State University erupted for nine runs over the final three innings and held off a late Bethune-Cookman rally to capture a wild 14-11 Southwestern Athletic Conference victory on Senior Day Sunday afternoon at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.
The Hornets avoided a three-game series sweep and improved to 27-20 overall and 17-10 in SWAC play, while Bethune-Cookman, the conference leader, fell to 35-17 and 21-6 in league action.
Alabama State blasted five home runs in the victory, including a go-ahead three-run homer from Devin Chandler in the sixth inning that turned the momentum permanently in favor of the Hornets. Miguel Oropeza added a three-hit day with a home run and three RBIs, while Chandler also drove in three runs.
Bethune-Cookman struck first in the second inning when Jeter Polledo delivered a sacrifice fly to score Maikol Lucena for a 1-0 lead. The Wildcats extended the advantage to 2-0 in the third on Andrey Martinez's solo home run to left field.
The Hornets answered immediately in the bottom of the third. Breydon Divine lined an RBI single to center to score Cale Clark before Oropeza ripped a run-scoring double into left-center field to tie the contest at 2-2.
Bethune-Cookman regained control in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Erick Almonte and later scored on a throwing error to build a 4-2 advantage. Alabama State trimmed the deficit to 4-3 in the bottom half when Jackson Williams launched a solo home run to left field.
Martinez struck again in the fifth inning with his second solo homer of the game, pushing the Wildcats ahead 5-3. Alabama State responded once more in the bottom of the inning as Oropeza crushed a two-run homer to left-center field, scoring Fabian Santana and knotting the score at 5-5.
The Wildcats surged back in front with a three-run sixth inning. Jorge Rodriguez singled home a run, Sergio Rivera added an RBI fielder's choice, and Rivera later stole home to give Bethune-Cookman an 8-5 lead.
Alabama State delivered its decisive response in the bottom of the sixth. Fabian Santana lifted a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 8-6 before Chandler hammered a three-run home run down the left-field line, scoring Clark and Jose Alfonso to put the Hornets ahead 9-8.
The Hornets added insurance in the seventh inning on back-to-back solo home runs from Niguel Jenkins and Trey Callaway to extend the margin to 11-8.
Alabama State pushed the lead to 14-8 in the eighth inning. Clark scored on a wild pitch before Quentin Jenkins delivered a two-run single to left field, plating Oropeza and Chandler.
Bethune-Cookman threatened in the ninth inning when Polledo blasted a three-run home run to left field, cutting the deficit to 14-11, but the Hornets recorded the final out to secure the victory.
Oropeza finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored, while Chandler drove in three runs and scored twice. Williams, Jenkins and Callaway each homered for Alabama State, which totaled 11 hits in the contest.
Caio Araujo earned the victory in relief for Alabama State, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings while allowing just two hits. Joe Dolinshek started and worked 4.1 innings with six hits allowed and five runs, four earned, while Trey Power provided 1.1 innings of relief. Zane Baltz closed out the final inning.
Bryon Rincones suffered the loss for Bethune-Cookman after allowing three runs in one-third of an inning. Tanner Boccabello started and surrendered five runs on six hits over five innings.
Alabama State hits the road for its final SWAC series against Alcorn State in Lorman, Miss., starting on Thursday at 6 p.m.
