MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alabama A&M (9-18, 9-13 SWAC) took an early lead but an offensive barrage would be too much to overcome as they dropped a 32-6 decision at Alabama State (23-17, 14-7 SWAC) in an NCAA Division I baseball game on Sunday, May 9.
Three singles in the first four batters loaded the bases with one out in the first for the Bulldogs before ASU cut down a run at the plate on a fielders' choice. Following that play, however, they would capitalize as freshman outfielder
Malik Frails (Harlem, Ga.) single to right for a 2-0 lead. The Hornets would get out of the inning on that same play as they gunned out a runner third.
From there it would be all Alabama State, however, as they pounded out five hits for eight runs in the home half of the inning and then proceeded to add five more hits and five more runs for a 13-2 lead through two.
It would be four more runs on three hits in the third for a 17-2 advantage before the Hornets exploded for 14 runs on seven hits to make it 31-2 after four innings of play. They would then tack on a run in the fifth for a 30-run margin.
A&M would then cut into that deficit as senior first baseman
Brock Mitchell (Brownsboro, Ala.) singled home a run and another was plated on a fielder's choice. Freshman designated hitter
Alden Moore (Shreveport, La.) then laced a ball down the right field line to make it 32-5 heading to the bottom of the sixth.
The Bulldogs would then hold ASU scoreless in the sixth and add a run on a solo homerun by freshman outfielder
Janmikell Bastardo (Fort Myers, Fla.) in the seventh before succumbing by the final score of 32-6.
Junior outfielder
Teddy Bridges (Montgomery, Ala.) went 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and a steal to lead A&M while Frails had two RBIs. Bastardo was 2-for-2 with a pair of walks, three runs and an RBI on his solo shot and Moore was 2-for-3 with a double and RBI. Sophomore pitcher
Otis Smith (Greentown, Ind.) started and suffered the loss to fall to 0-2 after allowing seven earned runs.
Jayden Sloan went 4-of-4 with a homerun, double, three runs and six RBIs to lead Alabama State while Dilan Espinal was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs. Jabronksi Williams, Cristopher DeGuzman, Hunter May and Chris Lewis each had two RBIs with the latter going 3-for-3 with four runs. Osvaldo Mendez started and went 3.2 innings, striking out six and allowing two earned runs while Britt Buckelew threw 1.1 scoreless innings to get the win and move to 3-1.
With the close of the regular season, Alabama A&M will now wait on the announcement of seeding for the upcoming Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Tournament. That will run from May 19-23 and be held in Madison, Alabama at Toyota Field, home of the Rocket City Trash Pandas, the Double-A affiliate of the Anaheim Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB).
