Montgomery, Ala. – Alabama State split a SWAC double header with Jackson State Sunday afternoon.
The Hornets took the first game 9-8 before dropping the night cap 17-8. ASU is back in action on Thursday when they host Fisk University at 1p.m. in Paterson Field. Admission is free.
ASU 9, JSU 8
The Hornets jumped out to a big lead and held on to give JSU their second conference loss of the season.
ASU scored six runs on five hits in the bottom of the third inning. Breon Landers got things going as he reached second base on an error. After moving to third on a ground out, he would eventually score on a balk. The Hornets later loaded the bases and ASU third baseman Zeb Hilburn drilled a double down the third base line, driving in two runs. Ronald James followed suit with a double that also drove in five runs.
In the fifth, Giovanni Fiallo drilled a long home run to right center field for a run that padded a 9-4 lead and eventually provide the winning margin.
JSU would rally, scoring four runs in the top of 6th to pull within one. However, ASU head coach Larry Watkins turned to ASU’s reliever/quarterbackDevin Dominguez who battled out of a bases-loaded jam.
Dominguez, supported by two nifty plays at first base by T. J. Griggs, closed the door with a one-two-three inning to get the save. Marquise Blake (1-2) picked up his first win of the season.
Josh Clemons had two hits, and James Jordan, Fiallo and Jordan had two RBI each.
JSU 17, ASU 8
Alabama State used a six-run third inning to tie Jackson State after the Tigers had built an early lead. However, the Hornets’ bullpen was unable to slow down the JSU attack as the Tigers used a four-run fourth and a five-run sixth to take the second game of the double-headers.
Zeb Hilburn went 3-4 with two RBI and two runs scored to lead ASU.
NOTES: Fiallo was catching this weekend in place of ASU senior Furquan Shamsud-Din, who was home in Detroit as his family mourned the passing of his grandmother. ‘We definitely want Furquan to know that our thoughts and prayers are with him and and his family,’ Watkins said.
