TUSKEGEE, Ala. – Tuskegee baseball dropped a pair of hard-fought contests in Friday's doubleheader against SIAC opponent Edward Waters at Washington Field, falling 11-7 in game one and 8-5 in game two.
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Despite generating consistent offensive production, the Golden Tigers couldn't overcome a fast-starting Edward Waters team.
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With the results, Tuskegee falls to 11-19 overall and 8-12 in SIAC play, while Edward Waters improves to 20-13 and 13-7 in the conference.
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Edward Waters 11, Tuskegee 7
In the opener, Tuskegee was on the wrong end of a high-scoring affair that saw both teams combined for 27 hits.
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Edward Waters got off to a quick start, plating a run in the first and erupting for four more in the third inning behind a trio of RBI singles.
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The visitors added insurance with two more in the fourth and a three-run sixth to pull away.
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Tuskegee chipped away behind timely hitting, including a pair of RBIs each from
Devon Lee,
Alex Glass, and
John Saffold.
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Saffold continued his hot streak at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a pair of runs driven in.
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Jacobi Brooks,
Ryan Morrow, and
Samarion Ward also posted two hits apiece, as the Golden Tigers finished with 12 as a team.
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On the mound,
Richard Powell IV took the loss after tossing five innings, allowing 11 hits and eight runs, six of which were earned.
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Edward Waters starter Anthony Bayyat picked up the win, scattering nine hits and three runs across 5.2 innings.
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Misael Ramos led all hitters, going 4-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored, while Chase Morris and Jordan Smith also drove in two runs each for the Tigers in purple and gold.
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Defensively, Tuskegee turned two double plays and swiped three stolen bases.
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Edward Waters countered with eight stolen bags, including two each from Smith and Morris, taking full advantage of their speed on the basepaths.
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Edward Waters 8, Tuskegee 5
Game two followed a similar pattern with another competitive showing from Tuskegee, who again had opportunities to come away with the win.
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Edward Waters struck first in the top of the fourth after a fielder's choice by Medina allowed a run to score.
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Tuskegee answered immediately in the bottom of the frame when Glass launched a solo homer to left to tie the game at one.
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However, Edward Waters seized momentum in the fifth, scoring three more runs on a groundout from Caden Hutchinson and an RBI single from J.C. Medina.
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The Golden Tigers pulled within striking distance again behind a two-RBI effort from Lee and an efficient 2-for-2 day at the plate from Glass.
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Morrow added two stolen bases to keep pressure on the defense, but Tuskegee couldn't quite capitalize in the late innings.
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Bobby Morgan was charged with the loss after throwing five innings and allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits.
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Up Next
Tuskegee returns to the diamond on Saturday to close out the three-game weekend series against Edward Waters. First pitch at Washington Field is set for 10 a.m. as the Golden Tigers look to bounce back and salvage the series finale.
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