HOUSTON, Texas | Alabama State University baseball completed a three-game Southwestern Athletic Conference series sweep of Texas Southern on Saturday, taking both games of a doubleheader at McGregor Field.
The Hornets rallied for an 8-3 win in game one before holding off the Tigers for a 6-4 victory in the nightcap. With the sweep, Alabama State improved to 26-19 overall and 16-8 in SWAC play.
In game one, Alabama State erased a 3-0 deficit with a three-run fifth inning before pulling away late for the 8-3 victory.
Texas Southern grabbed the early lead in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Evan Joubert and a two-run double from Miguel Morales to move ahead 3-0.
The Hornets answered immediately in the bottom of the fifth. Miguel Oropeza lifted a sacrifice fly to score Fabian Santana before Alabama State plated another run on a balk. Trey Callaway followed with an RBI single to center field to even the score at 3-3.
Alabama State took the lead for good in the seventh when Oropeza launched a solo home run to right field for a 4-3 advantage.
The Hornets added two more runs in the eighth inning as Cale Clark drove in a run on a fielder's choice and Breydon Divine drew a bases-loaded walk to extend the lead to 6-3.
Jackson Williams provided the final cushion in the ninth inning with a two-run homer to right field to seal the 8-3 win.
Oropeza finished 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI, while Williams added a homer and two RBI. Callaway drove in a run and Clark also added an RBI in the win.
Jorhan LaBoy earned the victory to improve to 7-4 on the season after allowing three runs on six hits with seven strikeouts over six innings. Caio Araujo tossed 1.2 scoreless innings in relief, while Trey Power recorded the final four outs for his third save of the year.
In game two, Alabama State used three home runs and timely pitching to complete the sweep with a 6-4 win.
The Hornets struck first in the third inning when Oropeza blasted a two-run homer to center field to give Alabama State a 2-0 lead.
Texas Southern answered with a run in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single from Christopher Chavez before Jackson Williams responded with a solo home run in the fourth inning to push the lead back to 3-1.
The Tigers cut the deficit to 3-2 on a solo homer by Elijah Rodriguez in the fourth, but Alabama State added an unearned run in the sixth when Clark doubled home Alex Espaillat for a 4-2 lead.
Texas Southern again pulled within one in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Evan Joubert, but the Hornets added insurance runs late. Trey Callaway belted a solo home run in the eighth inning before Devin Chandler delivered an RBI single in the ninth to extend the lead to 6-3.
Texas Southern scored once in the bottom of the ninth, but Trey Power induced a game-ending double play to preserve the win and complete the series sweep.
Oropeza went 2-for-4 with two RBI, while Callaway and Williams each homered. Chandler added an RBI and Clark delivered an RBI double.
Joe Dolinshek earned the win for Alabama State, improving to 1-2 after allowing three runs on six hits across 5.2 innings. Zane Baltz worked 2.1 innings in relief with three strikeouts, while Trey Power recorded his fourth save of the season.
