Hornets triumph in Magic City Diamond Classic
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (bamastatesports.com) – Carlos Ocasio hit a two-run homer, and Diandre Amion added a three-run shot as Alabama State baseball defeated Alabama A&M 14-2 in seven innings in the Magic City Diamond Classic at Rickwood Field.
Ocasio’s two-run homer in the first inning gave Alabama State (32-15 overall, 22-0 SWAC) a lead it would not relinquish as the Hornets set a SWAC record for the most victories in the 24-game conference format, surpassing the 2014 Hornets and 2012 Jackson State team, which each went 21-3 in league play.
Joseph Camacho (9-0) went the distance, allowing seven hits and two runs, with one walk and six strikeouts. He has now won his last 30 decisions as the Hornets have now won 34 of the last 35 games that Camacho has started.
Cooper went 3-4 and scored twice, and Pagan and Amion each drove in three runs as the Hornets won via run rule for the 11th time in conference play in scoring at least 10 runs for the 18th time this season.
Leading 4-2 in the fourth, the Hornets broke the game open with a five-run rally, with all runs scoring with two outs. Oscar Prioleau and Yamil Pagan walked. Amion then turned on a 1-2 pitch and homered down the right field line to the left of the 332 mark. Ocasio then singled to left, and Dillon Cooper singled up the middle. Ray Hernandez cleared the bases, doubling down the left-field line on an 0-1 pitch to give the Hornets a 9-2 lead.
Cooper’s double leading off the sixth started a four-run inning. Chris Biocic and Hernandez each were hit by pitch to load the bases. Hunter Phillips’ walked on a 3-0 pitch to score Cooper. Eriq White then singled to right, scoring Biocic. After Phillips scored on a passed ball, Pagan’s sacrifice fly to center scored White for the final margin.
Saturday’s 2 p.m. game and Sunday’s 1 p.m. game will be played in Montgomery at the Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.
