HUNTSVILLE, Ala. | Alex Diaz's single to right in the bottom of the ninth inning scored
Chevalier Dorris as the Alabama A&M University baseball team defeated Alabama State, 12-11, in a walk-off victory in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) series opener on Saturday at the Bulldog Baseball Field.
Alabama A&M (12-32 overall, 8-14 SWAC) led 11-1 entering the sixth inning and slowly watched Alabama State battle back, tying the game at 11 going into the ninth.
With one out in the ninth, Dorris singled through the right side and stole second. Diaz followed with a single to right and Dorris raced home, sliding head first for the walk-off win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Alabama State (22-22, 13-9) got a solo homer by Cristian Lopez in the top of the third, but the Bulldogs answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning to grab a 4-1 lead.
Jared Tribett absolutely crushed a solo homer to left and Tristian Curless belted a homer to deep center as AAMU grabbed a three-run lead.
Alabama A&M wasn't done as the Bulldogs used a three-run fourth to extend the advantage to 7-1.
Blake Martin began the frame with a single to left and advanced to second on a Tribett base hit to left center. Dorris reached on a bunt single and moved to second on a throwing error as Martin scored. With one out,
Brycen Hammonds singled to center as Tribett and Dorris scored.
The Bulldogs pushed the lead to 11-1 with four runs in the fifth and appeared in cruise control after five innings.
However, Alabama State closed the gap to 11-7 with six runs in the sixth.
The Hornets plated one in the seventh and took advantage of an error in the eighth, striking for three runs to tie the game at 11.
GAME NOTES
- Alabama A&M finished with 12 runs on 15 hits, committed four errors and left six on base
- Brycen Hammonds went 3-for-4, with three RBI, one walk and one run scored
- Tristian Curless went 2-for-3, with five RBI, two walks, two stolen bases and one run scored
- Jared Tribett and Chevalier Dorris each went 3-for-5, with three runs scored and one RBI
- Anthony Mateo started, giving up six runs (five earned) on eight hits, with three strikeouts and one walk in 5.1 innings
- Kobe Stokes, Charlie Lazo and Tristan Curless (1-0) pitched in relief
- Alabama State finished with 11 runs on 12 hits, had one error and stranded seven on base
- Jorhan LaBoy pitched four innings, surrendering seven runs on nine hits, with four walks and four strikeouts
- Juan Cruz went 3-for-5, with two RBI and one run scored
- Jack Hay went 2-for-4, with two runs scored a pair of runs driven in
- Yeriel Pastrana and Isaiah Landry also collected two hits
- Devin Brooks, Marcos Del Valle and Sebastian Colon worked in relief
UP NEXT
Alabama A&M returns to action for Game 2 of the SWAC series on Sunday against rival Alabama State. First pitch against the Hornets is set for 2 p.m. from the Bulldog Baseball Field.
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