MOBILE, Ala. – The Spring Hill College baseball team swept a conference doubleheader over visiting Savannah State University. The Badgers took game one 9-6 and picked up a 2-1 victory in game two. Spring Hill has claimed the series and looks to go for the sweep tomorrow.
The Badgers are 17-12 overall and 13-4 in the SIAC, while the Tigers fall to 13-13 and 10-7 in the conference.
Both teams are back in action tomorrow for the final game of the series, with first pitch at 1 p.m. CT.
Game 1: Spring Hill 9, Savannah State 6
Spring Hill in the bottom of the first wasted no time to get on the board. The Badgers took advantage of a fielding error that allowed Jatneir Torres to reach first. Then a muffed throw by the second baseman on
Jordan Black's fielder's choice allowed both runners to reach safely. A single deep in the hole to short by
Jaylen Jones loaded the bases. Torres later scored on
Alex Roux's RBI single to right to make it 1-0 before the inning ended
Savanah State tied the game at one in the second off a solo home run to straightaway center field with two outs.
The Tigers then, in the top of the fourth, took a 2-1 lead, but it did not last long because in the bottom half, the Badgers answered with a one-out solo home run from
Gavin Moran to tie the game at two.
Spring Hill broke the tie in the bottom of the sixth when it plated four runs on four hits. With one down,
George Bode singled down the right field line. Following a pop-out for the second out, Bode scored off Torres's RBI double to right center to make it, 3-2. Torres later scored to push the lead to 4-2 when Black singled to center.
Jaylen Jones cleared the bases with a home run over the right field wall to make it 6-2 before the inning ended.
The Badgers tacked on three more runs in the seventh off a pair of hits to take a 9-2 lead.
Savannah State cut the lead to three in the top of the eighth when it pushed four runs across on three hits and a hit by pitch to trail, 9-6.
Spring Hill reliever
Dylan Peck in the ninth had a 1-2-3 inning to secure the win and earn the save (1). He finished the game going one and a third innings with a strikeout.
Starter
Garrett Lott (3-0) allowed two runs on three hits over seven innings of work for the Badgers, while striking out eight.
Jones and
Andrew Juez combined to go 6-for-10 with three RBIs, two runs scored, and a home run.
Roux, Moran, and Bode each tallied two hits apiece. Moran finished with a home run while Bode tallied a double and a pair of RBIs.
Game 2: Spring Hill 2, Savannah State 1 – 7 inns.
With two outs in the bottom of the third,
Robby Lopez kept the inning alive with a walk. He later scored to make it 1-0 off a throwing error by the second baseman when Torres singled.
The Badgers added a run in the bottom of the fourth. It started when Roux dropped down a bunt single with one down. He later moved to third when
John Webb laid down a bunt single of his own to put runners on the corners. Moran drove in Roux off a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher to push the lead to 2-0 before the inning ended.
Savannah State cut the lead in half in the top of the fifth off a sacrifice fly to center to make it, 2-1.
The Tigers threatened in the top of the ninth when they put runners on second and third with two outs, but a groundout to the Badgers' shortstop for the final out ended the threat.
Starting pitcher Ray Ocha scattered three hits and one run over five innings, while striking out seven. His performance on the mound earned him the win to improve to 3-1.
Reliever
Bryce Coe slammed the door shut as he allowed one hit and a walk over two innings of work to earn the save (1). He fanned four in the process.
Torres and Roux each tallied two hits apiece. Torres was a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate, while Roux scored a run.
