LORMAN, Miss. | Alabama State rallied from a four-run deficit with eight unanswered runs over the final four innings to defeat Alcorn State University 15-11 in the opening game of a Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball series Friday evening at McGowan Stadium.
The Hornets improved to 28-21 overall and 18-10 in SWAC play after overcoming a 9-5 deficit following a seven-run third inning by Alcorn State.
Jackson Williams powered the Alabama State offense, finishing 4-for-4 with two doubles, six RBI and two runs scored. Cale Clark added four hits and two RBI, while Breydon Divine scored four runs and drove in another.
Alabama State jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. Divine walked and later scored on a bases-loaded walk by Williams before Clark delivered an RBI single to center to plate Miguel Oropeza.
Alcorn State answered with two runs in the bottom of the first and Alabama State regained control in the third inning. Williams lined an RBI double to left field before Clark followed with a two-run single, giving the Hornets a 5-2 advantage.
The Braves responded with their biggest inning of the night in the bottom half of the third. Taking advantage of multiple Alabama State miscues, Alcorn State scored seven runs — all unearned — to claim a 9-5 lead.
The Hornets began chipping away in the fifth when Williams scored on a passed ball to cut the deficit to 9-6.
Alabama State tied the game in the sixth inning with a three-run rally. Oropeza delivered an RBI single before Williams tied the contest with a two-run single to left field.
The Hornets took control for good in the seventh inning. Fabian Santana doubled to open the inning and later scored on Divine's RBI double. Niguel Jenkins followed with an RBI single before Williams delivered another key hit, a two-run double to center field that pushed Alabama State's lead to 13-9.
Santana added an RBI single in the eighth inning and the Hornets tacked on another insurance run in the ninth.
Alcorn State scored twice in the eighth inning, but Alabama State reliever Camden Matthews recorded the final four outs to secure his fifth save of the season.
Trey Power earned the victory in relief, improving to 6-3 after allowing two runs on three hits with five strikeouts over five innings. Matthews struck out two in 1.1 scoreless innings of relief.
Hayden Konkler took the loss for Alcorn State, falling to 1-2 on the season.
Alabama State finished with 16 hits, including multi-hit performances from Williams, Clark, Divine, Santana and Devin Chandler. The Hornets also drew nine walks in the nearly four-hour contest.
