ASU Hornets Dominate Youngstown State

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -- The Alabama State baseball team opened an 11-game homestand with an 11-2 win over Youngstown State Tuesday at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.

Michael Estevez (2-0) set the tone with five consecutive strikeouts to begin the game. He pitched a career-best six innings, allowing only four hits, one walk, and a career-high six strikeouts.

"It was an amazing performance," head coach Mervyl Melendez said of Estevez, who has not allowed a run in 11 innings pitched this season in his first year as a starter. "He has had back-to-back outings where he's thrown the ball very well. The five strikeouts were all on fastballs. He did very well tonight."

Emmanuel Marrero set career highs with four hits and four RBI as the Hornets won their third straight game.

"He swung the bat extremely well," Melendez said of Marrero. "Every hit he had he squared the baseball on the bat; he didn't have any cheap hits. When a hitter is seeing the ball like that, it looks like a beach ball, and I think that was the case for him tonight."

The Hornets scored two runs in the first inning, and four in the second inning. Richard Amion, who went 3-for-3 with two runs scored, and two RBI, led off with a walk. He stole second, and scored on Richard Gonzalez' RBI single to right field. With two outs,  Gonzalez stole second, and scored on Marrero's single up the middle for a 2-0 lead.

In the second, Branden Castro led off with a single to left, and advanced to third on a one-out double by Einar Muniz. Amion then singled to left, scoring Castro and Muniz. With two out, Cesar Rivera and Waldyvan Estrada were hit by pitches to load the bases. Marrero then singled down the right field, scoring Amion and Rivera to give the Hornets a 6-0 lead.

Leading 8-0 in the seventh, Marrero singled and scored on a Marcus Swint's triple, with Swint scoring on a throwing error on the play. Marrero completed his four-hit, four RBI night with a two-out single to right field, scoring Chase Waters who doubled.

The Hornets and Penguins conclude their two-game series Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.

Box Score

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS