Hornets overwhelm Jaguars in SWAC Baseball Tournament
SWAC.org
Alabama State 27, Southern 9 (F/7)
Box Score
NEW ORLEANS – Alabama State hit five home runs en route to a 27-9 win over Southern in opening round action of the 2016 SWAC Baseball Tournament Wednesday night from Wesley Barrow Stadium.
Southern (12-31) was able to get to Alabama State starter Joseph Camacho (10-0) early on, posting three runs on four hits in the opening inning, highlighted by a two-run triple by Anthony Valdes.
The Hornets (35-15) picked up a run in the bottom of the frame, as a throwing error later led to an unearned run that scored via a Dillon Cooper groundout.
As Camacho began to settle into the game, Alabama State’s offense began to roll in the second inning at the expense of Southern hurler J’Markus George (4-6). After the Hornets were able to cash-in on a bases loaded situation with a two-run single to left by Diandre Amion that tied things 3-3, Cooper followed with a two-run double to hand the Hornets the lead.
Biocic followed suit to push Alabama State’s advantage to four runs, and Ray Hernandez (2-for-6, 6 RBI) went yard for a two-run shot. After consecutive hit batsmen – with a passed ball sandwiched in between – left runners at the corners for the Hornets, a Jaguars error loaded the bags again and Yamil Pagan slapped a double to deep right to drive in another run. By the end of the outburst, the Hornets had built a 10-3 lead.
Southern came up empty in a bases-loaded situation of its own in the third. In the bottom of the third, Cooper (4-for-5, 4 R, 7 RBI) sent one out of the park to extend the lead, and a two-run round-tripper by Eriq White made it 14-3.
Camacho (4.1 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, W) hit consecutive batters and walked another hitter while the bases were loaded in the fifth to hand Southern three runs, but Amion delivered a RBI single, and Cooper smacked his second home run – a three-run shot – of the game to make it 18-6. ALST added nine more runs – punctuated by Hernandez hitting a grand slam for his second home run of the night – late to keep things in its favor.