Thursday, May 19, 2016

Pagan Drives In Seven Runs As Hornets Pound Alcorn State

NEW ORLEANS – Yamil Pagan went 4-for-4 with a grand slam and drove in a career-high seven runs as Alabama State moved to the SWAC Tournament semifinals with a 16-3 win over Alcorn State in seven innings.
 
Ray Hernandez hit a solo homer, his third of the tournament and ASU record 15th of the season as the Hornets (36-15) move to Friday's 6 p.m. game against the winner of Alcorn State – Southern. Alabama State is in the SWAC Tournament semifinals for the third time in four years with another total team effort.
 
Hernandez, Diandre AmionCarlos OcasioHunter Allen and Eriq White each had two hits as every Hornet starter had at least one hit or one run in the 15-hit attack.
 
The Hornets started fast as they have all season, scoring in the first inning for the 31st time this season. Pagan, Amion and Ocasio reached with singles to load the bases. Dillon Cooper, who drove in seven runs last night, hit a two-run double off the right field wall to give the Hornets a 2-0 lead.
 
Leading 3-0 in the third, the Hornets again loaded the bases with no one out. Oscar Prioleau's safety squeeze bunt scored Hernandez. Pagan's sacrifice fly scored Hunter Allen for a 5-0 lead.
 
The Hornets added four runs in the fourth, taking advantage of two Alcorn State (16-35) errors. Allen reached on a two-out throwing error, scoring Cooper and Chris Biocic. After Eriq White reached on an error and Prioleau walked to load the bases, a two-run single by Pagan to right center extended the Alabama State lead to 9-0.
 
In the sixth, Hernandez led off with a single to third base and advanced to third on a double by Allen. After White reached on an infield single to load the bases, Prioleau was hit by a pitch to score Hernandez. Pagan then hit a 2-1 pitch over the left field wall to cap the five-run inning and give the Hornets a 14-0 lead.
 
Tyler Howe (10-2) went six innings, allowing six hits, three runs, walking two and striking out eight to win his 10th straight decision.
 
All Hornet SWAC Tournament games will be broadcast on bamastatesports.com.

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

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