NCAA REGIONAL: Hornets battle but comeback ends in extra innings in elmination game against Oklahoma State
Alabama State’s Cale Clark rounds third base after his three-run homer tied the game at 6-6 in the eighth inning of the NCAA Regional game against Oklahoma State at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa on Saturday. (Photo courtesy Alabama State Athletics/Quincy Sims)
By GRAHAM DUNN
TUSCALOOSA - After trailing Oklahoma State by six runs through the first five and a half innings, the Alabama State Hornets were still in position to earn one of the biggest comeback wins in the school’s baseball history.
After tying the game in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Hornets had a couple of chances in extra innings to pull off the upset but came up short, falling to the Cowboys, 8-7 in extra innings in the NCAA Regional in Tuscaloosa on Saturday, ending an incredible run that began with a SWAC Tournament championship the week before.
“I'm extremely proud of my team. that's more of what we are about and what had yesterday and challenged them to come in here and compete and put us in a situation to have an opportunity to win the game and they did it,” stated ASU coach Jose Vazquez.
“It's hard to understand it right now, but it was an outstanding season for our team, the family environment, the memories that this guys created. To me, that's what it's all about. You know, we accomplish what we set up to do from day one, which is winning our conference tournament and put ourselves in a situation to be here and representing our university. (It’s) not a great feeling right now.”
For the first five innings, it looked like the Hornets would bow out quietly, collecting just one hit. The Cowboys got most their runs on a grand slam from Colin Brueggemann in the fourth.
Oklahoma State’s lead increased by two runs in the sixth after outfielders Devin Chandler and Niguel Jenkins misplayed a fly ball, allowing the runs to score with two outs.
But ASU would get on the board in its half of the sixth on a Jenkins homer to center to make it 6-2, Pokes.
The Hornets chipped way on the lead with another run in the seventh on a Breydon Divine sac fly that scored Jenkins.
The biggest hit of the day came from designated hitter Cale Clark, who had not homered all season but found a big fly in the eighth that tied the game at 6-6.
“I knew it as soon as I hit it,” Clark said. “After being robbed, so many times this year.. I got robbed at Mercer of a home run, and then this one finally leaves. I was really happy.”
The game-tying homer was set up with a double by Jenkins and a run-scoring single by Jackson Williams that cut the lead to 6-4.
Williams would score on the Clark home run.
After a scoreless ninth, Oklahoma State regained the lead in the top of the 10th when Alex Conover drew a bases-loaded walk to force home a run and make it 7-6.
The Hornets answered in their half of the 10th. Aden Malpass, running for Jenkins, scored on a bases-loaded walk to Fabian Santana to tie the score at 7-7.
Chandler followed the walk with a chance to win the game but was unable to connect on a breaking ball from Mario Pesca to end the inning.
Kollin Ritchie opened the 11th with a homer to left off Caleb Sanders, who relieved Trey Sanders in the 10th.
Divine led off the ASU half of the 11th by getting hit by a pitch. After two fielder’s choice outs, Malpass would advance to second on a Trey Calloway single. But Pesca struck out Williams for the final out of the game.
Despite being limited to five hits, Oklahoma State took advantage of 10 walks and three hit batters to score eight runs.
Alabama State outhit the Cowboys 11-5.
James Peterson started for the Hornets and lasted into the sixth inning. He struggled through the final two innings with a strained muscle that came by virtue of a wild throw he fielded at first base. Power came in relief in the sixth and lasted four innings allowing just a run on one hit.
“I know if it was somebody else on the mound, they would have done the same thing,” Peterson said. “Trey, Caleb, they've been heard before, and they've pitched under these circumstances, so I didn't want to let my team down.”
Pesca (7-4) earned the victory for Oklahoma State after tossing the final 3.2 innings. Brennan Phillips started for the Cowboys and struck out seven over 5.2 innings.
ASU ended its season at 34-23. The Cowboys moved into the third day of the regional needing wins over USC-Upstate and Alabama (twice) to advance to the Super Regional.