OZARK, Ala. | Just two years removed from playing for the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) championship, the Tuskegee University baseball team returns to historic Eagle Stadium to play in the 2016 SIAC Baseball Championships beginning Thursday.
 
Tuskegee (11-27, 7-13 SIAC), the fourth seed from the West Division, will close day one when they face Albany State (14-33, 12-6 SIAC) at 6 pm Thursday night.
 
The Golden Tigers fought their way into the tournament, needing a win to get in on the final weekend and getting that win against Paine College – the second seed from the East Division. Tuskegee has played just four teams in the field this year, compiling a 3-9 record against those opponents – Miles (0-3), Paine (1-2), Stillman (1-2) and Kentucky State (1-2).
 
The meeting between Tuskegee and the Golden Rams will be the first of the season between the two teams.
 
Tuskegee is led by junior first baseman/pitcher Ricky Green who leads the team in hitting at .306 with nine extra base hits. He is also slugging .469 and has an on-base percentage of .438. The junior has recorded recorded three stolen bases and has walked 18 times this season. Freshman Matthew Reed is hitting .295 for the Golden Tigers, splitting time between catcher and designated hitter. He has a pair of homeruns and 17 RBI, while senior Alexander Henderson is hitting .282 with 10 RBI after missing 11 games with an arm injury.
 
Jalen Luter leads the Golden Tigers with four homeruns, while fellow freshman Elgin Woodside leads the team in RBI.
 
Jordyn Thomas (2-3, 5.29 ERA) leads the team in earned run average, and took a no-hitter into the seventh inning against Paine last weekend. Trey Nelson (3-4, 5.46 ERA) has recorded three conference victories this season for Tuskegee, while being the number on starter this season. Joseph Mauldin (2-6, 7.26 ERA) leads the team in strikeouts with 59.
 
The winner of the first round game will play at 12 noon on Friday (April 29) in a losers bracket game, while the winner advances to play at 6 pm the next night.
 
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