HOUSTON (Interstat) — Alabama State defeated Texas Southern 6-4 on Sunday in the first game of a Southwestern Athletic Conference doubleheader at M.O. Campbell Center.

The Hornets improved to 26-19, while the Tigers fell to 18-18. Alabama State won for the second consecutive day after a 7-2 victory Saturday.

Alabama State struck first in the top of the third inning. Breydon Divine singled to shortstop and Miguel Oropeza followed with a home run to right field, scoring two runs. The Hornets added a solo homer by Jackson Williams in the fourth, pushing the lead to 3-0.

Texas Southern answered in the bottom of the third. Zachari Pace tripled to center field and scored on a single by Christopher Chavez. The Tigers cut the deficit to 3-2 in the fourth when Elijah Rodriguez homered to center field.

The Tigers pulled within one in the sixth inning. Byron Robinson tripled to left field and scored on a sacrifice fly by Evan Joubert, making it 3-2.

Alabama State responded in the eighth inning. Trey Callaway homered to left field, restoring a two-run lead. The Hornets added an insurance run in the ninth. With one out, Divine reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second and scored on a single by Devin Chandler, giving Alabama State a 6-2 lead.

Texas Southern mounted a rally in the bottom of the ninth. Rodriguez walked and was replaced by pinch runner Dalton Alford. Zachari Pace walked, and Anthony Ruiz singled to right field, scoring Alford and cutting the lead to 6-4. With runners on first and second, Christopher Chavez grounded into a double play to end the game.

Texas Southern grounded into three double plays overall, stalling several scoring opportunities.

Joe Dolinshek started for Alabama State and pitched 5.2 innings, allowing no hits but three earned runs, walking three and striking out two. He did not allow a hit but issued three walks, hit two batters and gave up a triple. Zane Baltz earned the win with 2.1 innings of relief, allowing one earned run on no hits with three strikeouts. Caleb Sanders recorded two outs in the ninth and Trey Power got the final out to preserve the victory.

Justin Mayes started for Texas Southern, pitching five innings and allowing six hits and three earned runs while striking out eight. Kewan Braziel threw three innings in relief, allowing two hits and one earned run with three strikeouts. Demarques Thompson took the loss, surrendering one run on one hit in the ninth.

Oropeza led Alabama State’s offense, going 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs. Callaway finished 1 for 5 with a homer. Williams was 1 for 3 with a homer and a walk. For Texas Southern, Rodriguez went 2 for 3 with a home run and an RBI.

The Hornets totaled nine hits, while the Tigers had eight.

Interstat’s ELO system gave Alabama State a 62.70 percent probability to win the game.