MOBILE, Ala. – The Spring Hill College baseball team splits the doubleheader part of the three-game series to claim the series 2-1. The Badgers fell 11-3 in game one, and in game two picked up a 5-1 win.
The Badgers are now 10-8 and 7-2 in the conference, and the Rams are 10-6 and 7-2 in the SIAC.
Spring Hill is on the road Tuesday, March 3, when it travels to the University of West Florida. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. Eastern.
Game 1: Spring Hill 3, Albany State 11
Down 5-0 going into the bottom of the second,
Gavin Moran put Spring Hill on the board when he connected for a home run to straightaway center to make it 5-1.
Albany State added a run in the fourth and the fifth to push the lead to 7-1.
The Badgers in the bottom of the fifth were able to push a pair of runs across, and it started when
Eli Benoit singled. He later moved to third off of
Reggie Cooper's double down the left field line. A failed pickoff and throwing error by the Rams pitcher allowed Benoit to score and move Cooper to third. Down 7-2,
Jordan Black's RBI single to center scored Cooper to cut the lead to 7-3.
The Rams in the top of the eighth pushed four runs across on four walks, a single, and a fielder's choice to go up 11-3.
With the Badgers down to their final six outs, the Albany State pitching did not allow a single runner to reach base in the final two innings to secure the win.
Black, Moran, Benoit,
Jaylen Jones, and Cooper each finished with a hit. Cooper tallied the team's only double, and Moran recorded a home run.
Starting pitcher
Harley Messer allowed four runs (three earned) on two hits and three walks in an inning and a third to take the loss (0-1).
Game 2: Spring Hill 5, Albany State 1 – 7 inns.
Following a scoreless top of the first, Spring Hill wasted no time getting on the board in the bottom half when Black homered to left with one down to make it 1-0.
The Badgers added a run in the second when Cooper, who singled and took second on an error, then moved to third on a wild pitch. He later scored off
Robby Lopez's RBI groundout to second to go up 2-0.
Spring Hill in the bottom of the third continued the scoring when Jones hit a solo home run to right field to push the lead to 3-0.
In the bottom of the sixth,
John Webb reached first on an error by the Rams' shortstop and then moved to second on a wild pitch. He later advanced to third on a flyout to right. Moran's double to left field scored Webb to make it 4-0. The Badgers added a fifth run when Moran scored off a throwing error by the shortstop following a flyout to center.
Spring Hill Starting pitcher Ray Ocha took a no-hitter into the top of the seventh. He recorded the first out on a strikeout, but a double and single broke up the no-hitter and shutout as the Rams tallied their first run and hits of the game before falling 5-1.
Ocha allowed two hits and a run over six and a third innings, while striking out a game-high six to earn his first win (1-0) of the season.
Jones finished game two going 2-for-3 with a run, an RBI, and a home run, while Black tallied the team's other home run.
Andrew Juez, Moran, and Cooper each tallied a hit, a pair of runs scored, and an RBI.
