NEW ORLEANS, La. – Two weather delays could not keep Alabama State University and Southern University from putting together the highest scoring game of the 2015 Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball tournament to date. The teams combined for 25 runs across five hours and 23 minutes.
Southern (19-22) pulled out the 13-12 win in 10 innings to advance to the first semifinal game on Friday at 3 p.m. ASU (31-18) will face Jackson State in the first quarterfinal at 9 a.m.
Four Jaguars finished with three or more hits led by Marcus Tomlin. The second baseman went a game-best 4-for-6 with two runs and an RBI. Righty Santos Saldivar closed for Southern and picked up the win after going 4.0 innings with a game-high six strikeouts.
Southern took the 3-0 lead in the second immediately following the first weather delay. The Jaguars kept ASU off the board for three straight innings while its offense extended their lead.
Gavin Webster led off the fourth with a triple to left field for Southern. Sergio Torres then singled to left center, scoring Webster. With two outs and runners on first and second, Frederick singled up the middle and cleared the bases. Tomlin then singled to center and DJ Wallace doubled to left center, scoring two more runs before the Hornets made a pitching change. Charles Taylor took the mound and struck out Joseph DeLa Torre in six pitches to end the rally.
Alabama State responded in the bottom half of the inning with a rally of its own. Waldyvan Estrada hit a one out double to center with two on that drove in the Hornets first run. Chris Biocic then doubled down the right field line to score Estrada. Two singles and a double later the Hornets pull within two, 8-6.
ASU took the lead in the bottom of the fifth, but the Jaguars responded with a three run seventh to take the lead 11-9. Lance Jones hit a solo two-out homer to left field on the first of his at bat to push Southern’s lead to three.
The Hornets needed a rally in the bottom of the ninth and they found it. Gustavo Rios hit a single through the right side with two on that started the run.
Saldivar walked Marcus Swint in five pitches to load the bases, and bring up Cesar Rivera. The right fielder watched the first three pitches before drilling one to second for a base hit. Estrada crossed and Pagan hustled from second to score the game tying run. Rivera advanced to second on a fielder’s choice, but the next batter grounded out, sending the game into extra innings.
Michael Estevez came in to pitch in the top of the 10th. Tomlin hit a single back to the pitcher with one out on the board. Wallace came up and fell behind 0-2 in his count but battled back to full before singling through the left side on a hit and run. Tomlin got a good jump on the pitch and came around to score the game winning run.
Courtesy: SWAC
