ALBANY, Ga. – Tuskegee baseball opened SIAC conference play on the road Friday evening, falling 11-3 to Albany State in the first game of a three-game weekend series.

The Golden Tigers were unable to overcome an early deficit, as the Golden Rams capitalized on timely hitting and took advantage of Tuskegee's miscues to secure the series opener.

Albany State wasted no time asserting its offensive dominance, jumping out to an early 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. A leadoff single set the tone, followed by a double that drove in the game's first run.

The Golden Rams extended their lead with another RBI double, before an RBI single brought home another run. A wild pitch later in the inning allowed an additional run to score, putting Tuskegee in an early hole.

Tuskegee starter Mikelle Mason struggled to find his rhythm, walking five batters over three innings while surrendering four runs (three earned) on four hits. Despite some strong defensive plays, including a key double play in the third, the Golden Tigers were unable to generate any offensive momentum in the early innings.

Albany State tacked on two more runs in the fourth inning, taking advantage of a hit-by-pitch and a walk before a two-run double down the left-field line, extending the Golden Rams' lead to 6-0.

The Golden Tigers finally broke through in the top of the seventh inning. James Slaughter provided a spark with a triple to right field, and Ryan Morrow followed with an RBI single to put Tuskegee on the board. A passed ball and a fielding error allowed Scott Williams to reach base and advance to scoring position, and Devon Lee capitalized with a two-run single, cutting the deficit to 6-3.

However, Albany State responded emphatically in the bottom of the eighth, exploding for five insurance runs to put the game out of reach. A costly fielding error, followed by a walk, set the stage for M. Delay, who delivered a two-run double to left field. A sacrifice fly and an RBI single extended the lead to 11-3.

Tuskegee was unable to mount a late comeback, as Albany State's pitching staff shut the door with two dominant innings, striking out four of the six batters he faced to secure the victory.

The Golden Tigers managed just four hits in the game, with Morrow (1-for-4, RBI), Lee (1-for-3, 2 RBI), Slaughter (1-for-4, 3B), and Scott Williams (1-for-3) recording the only base knocks. Slaughter's seventh-inning triple was the team's lone extra-base hit.

Mason (1-3) took the loss, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits in three innings, walking five and striking out three. Richard Powell Jr. provided 4.1 innings of relief, giving up six runs (five earned) on two hits with five walks and one strikeout. Jaylen Hill finished the game but surrendered a pair of runs in the eighth inning.

With the loss, Tuskegee falls to 3-6 overall and 0-1 in SIAC play. The Golden Tigers will look to bounce back in the final two games of the series on Saturday, with a doubleheader to wrap up the weekend series.

How to Follow the Golden Tigers
For complete information on Tuskegee Golden Tigers Baseball, visit GoldenTigerSports.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.