THE HILL | The Alabama A&M University baseball team collected a pair of runs in the first inning but could not overcome big innings by Alabama State in dropping the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) series final to the Hornets, 15-6, on Sunday afternoon at the Bulldog Baseball Field.
 
Alabama State (18-16 overall, 8-7 SWAC) plated four runs in the top half of the first inning to grab an early 4-0 lead.
 
Alabama A&M (8-30, 2-13) cut the deficit in half by scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning.
 
Miles Jackson opened the frame with a triple to right. Brycen Hammonds reached on an infield single to put runners on the corners. Jackson scored when he beat the throw home as Tarris Murray reached on a fielder's choice. With one out, Colin Mason ripped a base hit to right center as Hammonds scored to cut the gap to 4-2.
 
The Hornets got a solo homer to left by Miguel Oropez in the second inning and took advantage of an error in the third as Devin Chandler belted a three-run homer to stretch the lead to 8-2.
 
Alabama State added one run in the fourth and four more in the fifth to extend the advantage to 13-2.
 
The Hornets tacked on two more runs in the seventh, pushing the lead to 15-2.
 
However, Alabama A&M rallied in the bottom of the frame with four runs, trying the deficit to 15-6.
 
William Tarpley (0-2) went 2.2 innings and surrendered eight runs (five earned) on nine hits, with one walk and one strikeout. Edyn Barber, Rynzo Crutcher, Brady Baxter and Griff Minor pitched in relief.
 
Trey Power started on the mound for Alabama State and gave up two runs on three hits, with one strikeout in two-thirds of an inning. James Peterson (3-0) earned the win in 5.1 innings of relief, Zane Baltz, Caio Araujo and Joe Dolinshek worked out of the bullpen.
 
UP NEXT
Alabama A&M returns to action on Tuesday as the Bulldogs visit Jacksonville State. First pitch against the Gamecocks is set for 6 p.m. from Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium.
 
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