HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – An explosive offense built an insurmountable lead as Alabama A&M (2-12, 2-7 SWAC) fell by a 15-1 score to rival Alabama State (11-13, 8-4 SWAC) in an NCAA Division I baseball game on Saturday, April 3.
Following a scoreless first inning the Hornets got on the board with a two-run homerun by Angel Jimenez in the second inning and tacked on another run in the third for a 3-0 advantage. The game would stay within reach over the next several innings until ASU exploded for four runs on four hits in the top of the fifth. That frame would be highlighted by a two-RBI triple by Dale Francis that made the score 7-0.
The clubs would then combine for one hit over the next two innings, however, that one hit would be a two-run shot by A.J. Gardner that pushed the lead to 9-0. The Bulldogs would then get on the board in the bottom of the eighth as they brought home a run on a wild pitch.
In the top of the ninth Alabama State then belted a pair of homeruns and a double to add on six runs and reach the eventual final margin of 15-1.
Freshman outfielder
RJ Farrell (Madison, Ala.) went 1-for-3 with the lone run to pace A&M while sophomore second baseman
Trevor Berkemeyer (North Las Vegas, Nev.) notched a hit and a walk on the day. Junior starter
Peyton Baker (Acworth, Ga.) went 4.2 innings, allowing six earned runs and striking out six to fall to 0-4 on the year.
Santiago Garcia paced the Hornets with four RBIs and a 2-of-4, two run day that included a homerun while Jimenez was 3-for-5 with three RBIs, two runs and a long ball of his own. Jabronski Williams and Gardner each added homeruns and two RBIs and Dale was 1-for-3 with three runs and two runs driven in. Jordan Gould started and went seven innings, striking out eight and allowing just one run to improve to 4-0.
Alabama A&M returns to action next weekend when they continue a nine game homestand as Arkansas-Pine Bluff comes to town for a three-game series. That set will run from April 9-11 with the first two games at 2 p.m. and the finale slated for a 1 p.m. first pitch.
