MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Alabama A&M (5-21, 3-9 SWAC) dropped an 18-6 decision against Alabama State (18-14, 10-2 SWAC) in an NCAA Division I baseball game on Sunday, April 10.
 
The Bulldogs would register a run in the top of the first inning as graduate right fielder Tim Dixon (Debary, Fla.) singled through the left side and brought home graduate left fielder Nemo Wright (PG County, Md.) for a 1-0 lead.
 
The Hornets would then respond in the bottom of inning by delivering three runs off three hits including Hunter May doubling to left field a two-RBI that allowed Cristopher DeGuzman and Dilan Espinal to score and take a 3-1 advantage. ASU would then capitalize in the bottom of the second inning as Kyler McIntosh scored to increase the lead by three.
 
In the bottom of the third inning Alabama State would unleash a barrage of six runs off six hits to push their advantage by nine runs before adding two runs in the bottom of the fourth as Jabronski Williams scored on a wild pitch and Luis Rodriguez came home for a 12-1 lead.
 
The Bulldogs would finally respond in the top of the fifth inning as junior short stop C.J. Mervilus (Brooklyn, N.Y.) doubled down the left field line to allow graduate center fielder Damani Thomas (Zellwood, Fla.) to score before Dixon singled through the right side and brought home Mervilus. AAMU would continue adding runs to the scoreboard as freshman designated hitter Janmikell Bastardo (Fort Myers, Fla.) also singled through the right side and Wright scored to cut the deficit to 12-4.
 
The Hornets would then take their biggest lead of the afternoon in the bottom of the inning with five runs off four hits that consisted of three RBIs from Rodriguez. Those brought home Williams, Trenton Jamison and Dilan Lopez for a 17-4 lead. They would extend the score in the bottom of the sixth inning as Jayden Sloan walked and Jamison scored for a 14 run advantage.
 
AAMU would then answer in the top of the seventh inning as junior third baseman Jared Tribett (Lumberton, Miss.) flied out to center field and Wright came home before Bastardo singled to left field and Dixon scored to cut the lead to 18-6 but the Hornets would secure the victory and series.
 
Hunter led ASU with a 3-of-4 day, three RBIs and three scored runs while Rodriguez went 1-of-3 with three RBIs and two scored runs. Jabronski went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and Trenton had a 2-for-5 day, one RBI and three scored runs to round out the top performers. Breon Pooler threw four innings, striking out five and allowing four earned runs to move to 6-0.
 
Dixon led the Bulldogs with a 3-of-3 day, two RBIs, and a scored run while Bastardo was 2-of-4 with a pair of RBIs and Wright was 2-of-2 with three runs scored. Graduate pitcher Noah Whitted (Beaumont, Texas) threw 2.2 innings, allowing seven earned runs and striking out one to fall to 2-1.
 
The Bulldogs are back in action from April 14-16 as they host a three-game series against Bethune-Cookman. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at James Clemens High School.