Hornets take JSU series with 4-1 win over Gamecocks
MONTGOMERY, Ala (bamastatesports.com) – Brandon Caples hurled seven strong innings, and Hunter Allen homered for the third straight game as Alabama State defeated Jacksonville State 4-1 Tuesday at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.
Caples (2-0) kept the Jacksonville State scoreless until the seventh, allowing four hits, one run, walking one and striking out five as Alabama State (27-14) defeated the Gamecocks for the second time in three meetings this season. Austin Bizzle came on to earn his second save, pitching the final two innings allowing just one hit with two strikeouts.
“Wow,” said Alabama State head coach Mervyl Melendez of Caples’ performance. “At one point, I thought he was going to be able to finish the game. He probably could have, but we didn’t want to extend the pitch count (career high 103 pitches, 72 for strikes). My hats’ off to Caples. What he did tonight against a very good team that is second in the Ohio Valley Conference says a lot about his effort.”
In a scoreless game, Allen and Eriq White led off the third inning with singles. Following a sacrifice bunt by Oscar Prioleau, Yamil Pagan’s sacrifice fly scored Allen for a 1-0 lead.
In the fifth with one out, Allen homered on the first pitch down the left field line for a 2-0 lead. White then was hit by a pitch, and moved to second on a groundout. Pagan’s singled to left field scored White for a 3-0 lead.
“Usually we give Hunter a break in midweek,” said Melendez of Allen, who now has a career-best six home runs on the season. “However, I thought he would be very good with Caples calling the game, and he’s been hot at the plate. Allen got the first hit of the game on a line drive, and he homered on the second at-bat. The production is there. He’s seeing the ball very well right now. I know we need to rest him and keep him fresh for the weekend, but he needed to play tonight and did well.”
After Jacksonville State (26-14) scored with back-to-back hits in the seventh, Caples induced a 5-4-3 double play, highlighted by a great scoop at second base and throw to first by Prioleau. Following a walk, Caples got the strikeout to end the inning.
“Those are the plays you need to make to win ball games,” Melendez said. “It was a bad throw to the bag, and Oscar made a very nice scoop and turned the double play on a very tough play. It’s not how you draw it up, but nevertheless I was very pleased as it helped us get out of the inning.”
The Hornets hit the road for a five-game road trip starting Wednesday at Tennessee in a first-time matchup at 5 p.m.
“We have another opportunity to play against an SEC opponent,” said Melendez of the Hornets’ third game against a Southeastern Conference team after two earlier meetings at Auburn this season. “It’s been well documented that SEC baseball is one of the hottest brands in the country. It’s another opportunity for the Hornets to put ourselves on the map. I believe if we play the way we did tonight, we’ll have a chance. We have to hit when it counts, and we have to pitch well and throw strikes.”
