ALBANY, Ga. – After getting swept in a four-game series last weekend, the Spring Hill College baseball team exacted revenge on the Albany State Golden Rams in the semifinal of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAC) Championship Tournament.
The Badgers dominated the hosts, 13-3, on 14 hits while limiting ASU to six hits in the mercy rule shortened game.
Head Coach
Frank Sims was pleased with how his team responded after getting swept in Mobile a week ago.
"Last weekend we were close. The difference between last week and today is we didn't get the hits when it counted. Today, Mason (Bonnaffons) came up with a big hit, Neil (Ring) came up with a big hit. We had four or five guys come up with hits that didn't last week. We left a lot of people on against the same pitching we just didn't get the hits. They got a couple of breaks at our place, and we didn't get any," Sims said.
Spring Hill stranded 33 batters in the series last weekend at Historic Stan Galle Field. Today, SHC made the most of their opportunities with eight players collecting hits and all 13 runs were a result of a RBI.
Brennan Fontenot paced the Spring Hill offense, finishing 3-for-5 with five RBI, a three-run home run onto the road beyond the right field fence, his second HR of the tournament, and a game-ending two-run double.
Mason Bonnaffons,
Daniel Rodriguez, and
Grayson Williams all recorded two RBI for the Badgers.
AJ Fell (3-1) went six strong innings in the win. Fell gave up two earned runs while striking out seven.
Spring Hill (28-20) advances to the SIAC Championship and will play the winner of the Albany State and Miles College matchup on Sunday, May 5. The game is currently scheduled for 1 p.m. but may be adjusted due to impending weather. An 'if necessary' game is scheduled to be played immediately following that contest, should the Badgers lose.
"You can't be in a better position in a tournament when you win the first three games," said Sims. "Whoever it is tomorrow they've got to beat you twice. That's an envious position for any coach, or player. We played really well today. We didn't play well early in the year, then we played well, then we didn't play real well late, and now we're starting to win again. Now's a good time to pick it up."
SHC is looking for its first conference title since winning the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference title in 2001. The Badgers won five GCAC titles (1983, 85, 1997, 2000, 2001).
The game will be played at the Albany State University West Campus located at 2400 Gillionville Road.
For more information including bracket, location, and live stats, follow the link below:
http://thesiac.com/tournaments/?id=37&path=baseball
