BIRMINGHAM, Ala. | Alabama State University punched its ticket to the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game Saturday night, defeating Arkansas-Pine Bluff 8-5 at historic Rickwood Field behind a five-run fourth inning.
The Hornets improved to 33-21 overall and advanced to Sunday's SWAC Baseball Championship game against Florida A&M University at 1 p.m. pm SWAC TV/
Alabama State struck first in the opening inning when Trey Callaway delivered an RBI single to left field to score Breydon Divine for a 1-0 lead. Divine reached on a fielder's choice earlier in the inning and stole third before Callaway's clutch two-out hit.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff answered in the second inning as Konner Giddley singled home Zyon Hamilton to even the score at 1-1.
The Hornets broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth with five runs on five hits. Alex Espaillat started the rally with a double down the right-field line before Fabian Santana brought him home with an RBI single up the middle to give Alabama State a 2-1 advantage.
Two batters later, Miguel Oropeza launched a three-run home run to left field, scoring Divine and Santana for a 5-1 lead. Niguel Jenkins followed immediately with a solo home run to left, pushing the advantage to 6-1.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff cut into the deficit in the sixth inning when Nick Hockemeyer lined a two-run single to left field, trimming the lead to 6-3.
Alabama State responded with two insurance runs in the seventh inning. Jackson Williams reached and advanced to second on a throwing error before Cale Clark followed with a single. Espaillat later delivered a sacrifice fly to score Williams, and Santana added another RBI single to plate Clark for an 8-3 lead.
The Golden Lions added two runs in the eighth inning on a sacrifice fly from Zach Wieder and an RBI double by Aaron Grant, but Alabama State closer James Peterson shut the door in the ninth inning to secure his fourth save of the season.
Power earned the win for Alabama State to improve to 7-3 after allowing three runs on 10 hits over 5.2 innings with four strikeouts. Caio Araujo and Camden Matthews combined to bridge the middle innings before Peterson recorded the final three outs.
Nate Lee suffered the loss for Arkansas-Pine Bluff and fell to 1-1 after surrendering five runs on six hits in 2.1 innings of relief.
Oropeza finished 1-for-3 with a three-run homer and two walks, while Santana went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a run scored. Callaway collected two hits and an RBI, and Williams added two hits and scored twice.
The game experienced a lengthy rain delay after play was suspended at 5:17 p.m. and resumed at 8:46 p.m. before concluding at 11:53 p.m. in front of 580 fans at Rickwood Field.
