2015 Baseball Tourney: Jackson St. 4, Alabama St. 1
SWAC.org
Box Score • Tournament Central
NEW ORLEANS, La. – Jackson State University rallied late against Alabama State University to earn the 4-1 win and advance to the Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball tournament semifinals. JSU (32-24) will face Southern University today for a chance to defend their title. Alabama State concludes its season at 31-19.
The Tigers were led by starter Vincent Anthonia. The righty pitched a complete nine innings, allowing just three hits, no earned runs and striking out a game-high six batters. Bryce Brown finished with a game-high three hits.
The teams remained scoreless through six innings. Alabama State loaded the bases in the top of the seventh assisted by a couple Tiger throwing errors. Cesar Rivera hit a deep ball to left field that was caught by Lamar Briggs and immediately heaved towards home. Briggs’ throw arrived a step after Ray Hernandez and catcher Jovany Felipe’s swipe missed as Hernandez crossed the plate. But officials ruled that Hernandez left early and he was called the second out of the inning.
Anthonia then hit PJ Biocic to reload the bases and bring up Waldyvan Estrada. The designated hitter took four straight balls, earning the walk and go ahead RBI. Chris Biocic then hit an 0-1 pitch to shallow right in foul territory that was run down by Brown and caught for the final out.
Play was then halted for weather before the next batter entered the box. After an hour and 47 minute delay, the game resumed and Jackson State looked to score the equalizer and save its season. They would find it in the bottom of the eighth.
Gary Thomas reached on a throwing error by Yamil Pagan and advanced to second. Melvin Rodriguez walked on four straight pitches and the pair advanced on a wild pitch. Felipe then hit a double to left field that scored the eventual game winner in Rodriguez. Jesus Santana added the insurance with a two-run homer over the right field fence.
Jorge Pantoja then came in to pitch and got Alabama State out of the jam and the Hornets had one more chance to continue in the tournament. But the Tigers had other plans. Anthonia struck out the first batter, got Rivera to fly out on his first pitch to center and went to work on PJ Biocic. After falling behind in the count 2-0, he worked the count full by freezing Biocic in the box. The next pitch was swung through and missed, ending the game and the Hornets season.