TUSKEGEE, Ala. — The Tuskegee baseball team wrapped up a three-game SIAC home series on Saturday afternoon at Washington Field with a doubleheader split against Benedict.
After suffering a lopsided 22–5 loss in the opener, the Golden Tigers rebounded in the finale with a gutsy 7–6 win to avoid the sweep.
Tuskegee moves to 13–27 overall and 9–18 in conference play, while Benedict improves to 17–11 overall and 15–11 in the SIAC.
Benedict 22, Tuskegee 5 (7 Inn.)
The first game of the day was a slugfest dominated by Benedict, who exploded for eight runs in the top of the first inning and tacked on 14 more across the final six frames.
Tuskegee starting pitcher
Amare Morgan was chased after recording just two outs, allowing seven earned runs on two hits and three walks.
Benedict sent 13 men to the plate in the opening frame, capitalizing on two walks, a hit-by-pitch, and a three-RBI double from Carson Fellows to seize an 8–0 lead.
Rodney Mudd II followed Morgan and pitched into the seventh, giving up six earned runs and issuing seven walks.
Benedict finished the game with 13 hits and 12 walks, led by Isaiah Canty, who went 3-for-6 with four RBIs and a double.
c. Fellows drove in three, and Nicholas Gioia added three hits and three RBIs. The visitors also stole seven bases and scored multiple runs in five different innings, capped by an eight-run top of the seventh.
Offensively, Tuskegee plated three runs in the fourth, thanks to an RBI single by
Ryan Morrow and a sacrifice fly from
Jacobi Brooks.
In the fifth,
Scott Williams brought in another run with a single, and
Jabari Johnson added an RBI hit.
Devon Lee and Morrow each recorded two hits, while the Golden Tigers stole five bases but committed four errors that extended innings for Benedict.
Shane Williams earned the win for Benedict, throwing a complete game and allowing five runs (three earned) on six hits.
Tuskegee 7, Benedict 6
The Golden Tigers responded in the final game with a determined effort, jumping out to a 6–1 lead through the first three innings and holding off a late Benedict push.
Ryan Morrow started on the mound and pitched five solid innings, allowing four earned runs on four hits while striking out two.
Devon Lee came in for the final two frames and earned the save, limiting Benedict to one run on one hit.
Tuskegee struck early with a three-run first inning highlighted by a two-run triple from
Scott Williams and an RBI single from
John Saffold. In the second, the Golden Tigers added three more as Williams delivered another two-run single, bringing his RBI total to four for the game. Morrow chipped in with an RBI triple in the third, extending the lead to 7–2.
Benedict responded with runs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, closing the gap to 7–6, but a key double play and a groundout in the seventh helped Lee slam the door. Tuskegee played much cleaner defensively in Game 2 and received key hits from Williams (2-for-3, 4 RBIs), Morrow (1-for-2, RBI, triple), and
Alex Glass (1-for-3, RBI double).
Benedict was limited to five hits in the finale. Juan Guardado went 1-for-3 with an RBI, and Gioia added a run-scoring single. Carson Fellows was tagged with the loss after giving up six runs in two innings before Jonathan Olmedo came on in relief to pitch four innings of one-run ball.
Tuskegee totaled eight hits, committed two errors, and left four runners on base in the win. The Game 2 victory marked the team's 13th of the season and their ninth in SIAC play.
The Golden Tigers will return to the diamond next weekend for another crucial conference series as they look to climb the standings and solidify their postseason positioning.
Up Next
Tuskegee will return to play on Tuesday for a midweek non-conference game on the road against West Alabama at Tartt Field. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
How to Follow the Golden Tigers
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