MOBILE, Ala. – The Spring Hill College (SHC) baseball team rolled to a 12-8 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) victory over the Kentucky State University (KSU) Thorobreds at historic Stan Galle Field on Friday night.
 
SHC grabbed a quick 5-0 lead over the Thorobreds (17-18, 7-6 SIAC West) before the first out was recorded in the 1^st inning. KSU would find its stride in the 5^th inning and put five runs on the board to wrest away a 6-5 lead before Will Shaw (4-1) came to the mound to stop the bleeding.
 
The Badgers got up from the mat to tie the game at 6-6 with a run without a hit in the bottom of the 5^th inning as shortstop John Sklopan scampered home from 3^rd base with two outs after Chae Butler (2-3) of KSU walked the bases-loaded. Four more Badger runs came across the plate in the 6^th inning as back-to-back RBI-singles by catcher Brennan Fontenot and center fielder Justin Collier were followed by a sacrifice fly to left by Sklopan and another run-scoring single by pinch hitter Nicholas Chiasson.
 
Thorobred catcher Bryan Wilson ripped a two-run home run out of left field in the 7^th inning to make it a 10-8 contest, but KSU would get no closer as SHC added a bases-loaded walk by Sklopan in the bottom of the frame and first baseman Keaton Smith would score off an infield error in the 8^th inning.
 
Shaw finished the final five innings for the Badgers to earn the win by scattering four hits with no walks and eight strikeouts in relief of starter AJ Fell who lasted four innings with nine hits, three walks and two strikeouts.
 
Butler took the loss in 5.1 innings after giving up 11 hits and five walks with one strikeout. Kevin Givhan completed the next 2.2 innings for KSU with one hit, four walks and three strikeouts.
 
Badger left fielder Luke Wall extended his current hitting streak to 19 games with a stellar 4-for-6 night while Fontenot and Collier each collected a pair of hits for the home team. Sklopan went 0-for-1 at the plate, but still found a way to drive in three runs. KSU had four batters enjoy multiple-hit performances paced by Wilson's 3-for-4 effort with three RBIs and designated hitter Brandon Story's three singles.
 
The Badgers (22-16, 13-1 SIAC West) and the Thorobreds will finish this three-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday at noon at historic Stan Galle Field.