Behind a complete game two-hitter from John Guienze. The Southern University baseball team jumped on No. 2 seed Alabama State University early en route to a 3-0 win in the second game of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Tournament at Toyota Field in Madison, Ala. Southern now will face the winner of the Prairie View A&M and Alcorn State game Thursday.
Guienze (1-5) was masterful in recording his first win of the season. He scattered two hits, struck out nine and walked one, going the full nine inning.
Southern scored the game’s first run in the top of the third-inning. A lead off single by Bubba Thompson, Isaiah Adams reached base on a bunt, both advanced to second and third base on Colton Frank sacrifice bunt. Alabama State starter Breon Pooler hit the next batter he faced to load the bases. O’Neill Burgos ripped a single to right field for the Jaguars 1-0 lead.
Southern came to play on the offensive end, recording five hits in the game as O”Neill Burgos, Tremaine Spears, and Zavier Moore each drove in a run to record the win.
The victory marked the last time Southern won a conference tournament game dating back to becoming SWAC champions then going to the NCAA Regional Tournament in 2019.
Southern added two insurance runs in the eighth. Pooler, in 7.1 innings pitched allowed three hits two runs two earned runs while striking out eight. Pooler was pulled from the game after throwing a 131 pitch count. In relief, Ryan Velazquez in 1.2 innings on the hill allowed two hits that scored a run.
It was Guienze’s first complete game of the season and first complete nine-inning game. His nine strikeouts is his season and collegiate high. Alabama State will fight it’s way out of the tournament’s losers bracket.