The Alabama State baseball squad entered the NCAA Tournament’s Tuscaloosa Regional with hopes of advancing beyond the opening round, only to encounter a resilient Oklahoma State team that would push the contest into extra innings.
Early Lead by Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State drew first blood in the fourth inning when Colin Brueggemann launched a grand slam, establishing a 4‑0 advantage that set the tone early in the game.
Alabama State answered in the sixth and eighth innings, with timely hits that narrowed the gap and forced the game into a tie, showcasing the Hornets’ resilience.
Extra‑Inning Decider
In the top of the 11th, Oklahoma State’s Kollin Ritchie delivered a solo home run that broke the deadlock, giving the Cowboys an 8‑7 lead that would prove decisive.
Alabama State’s Trey Power had kept the opposition scoreless through the ninth, providing a crucial window for the Hornets to mount a comeback, but the timely hit by Ritchie left them short of the finish line.
Pitcher James Peterson worked 5.2 innings, surrendering six runs on three hits, while relievers attempted to stem the tide as the game slipped away.
Despite out‑hitting Oklahoma State for much of the contest, the Hornets’ season concluded without a national championship tournament victory, a bittersweet ending to a campaign marked by late‑game heroics.