FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Spring Hill College baseball team swept the doubleheader part of the conference series against Kentucky State University this afternoon. The Badgers took game one, 19-10, and won game two, 9-8. With today's two wins, Spring Hill has won eight series this season.
Spring Hill improves to 28-13 and 22-4 in the SIAC, while Kentucky State falls to 10-27 and 9-17.
Both teams are back in action tomorrow as the Badgers look to go for the sweep at 11 a.m. CT/Noon ET.
Game 1: Spring Hill 19, Kentucky State 10
The Badgers took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first when
Jaylen Jones homered to left field, but the lead did not last long as the KSU pushed two runs across to go up 2-1 in its half of the inning.
In the top of the second,
Andrew Juez walked with one down and later moved to third off a throwing error by the pitcher on a pickoff attempt. He then scored when
Eli Benoit singled through the right side to tie the game.
The Thorobreds in the second retook the lead to make it 3-2 off an RBI walk.
With the bases loaded in the top of the third,
Gavin Moran's RBI fielder's choice scored Jatneir Torres to tie the game at three with two outs. KSU was able to limit the damage by forcing a groundout to end the frame.
Spring Hill added three runs in the fourth and another run in the fifth to take a 7-3 lead.
The Badgers in the top of the sixth plated four runs on one hit. It started with one out when Torres walked, and following a flyout, Jones reached first on a fielding error to put two on. The Badgers then loaded the bases when
John Webb walked. Spring Hill cleared the bases when Moran belted a grand slam to right center to make it 11-3 before the inning closed.
KSU in the bottom half of the sixth cut the lead to four when it tallied four runs on three hits to trail, 11-7.
The Badgers tacked on a pair of runs in the seventh and another six runs in the eighth to go up 19-7, but the Thorobreds attempted to rally when they pushed three across in their half of the eighth to make it 19-10.
Spring Hill used a double play and a groundout to end the game and secure the win.
The Badgers registered eight extra base hits (three doubles and five home runs).
Starting pitcher
Garrett Lott picked up his seventh win to improve to 7-1. He allowed five runs (three earned) on seven hits over five innings. He fanned six in the process.
Torres and Webb led all Spring Hill hitters with three hits each. Torres finished the game going 3-for-4 with four RBIs, four runs scored, two walks, and a home run.
Moran paced the team in RBIs with six while going 2-for-4 with three runs scored and two home runs.
Game 2: Spring Hill 9, Kentucky State 8 – 7 innings
Spring Hill in the top of the second took an early 6-0 lead. It started when pinch-hitter
Weston Kirk singled to right. He then moved to second when Juez walked.
Reggie Cooper loaded the bases when he pushed a single through the left side. Kirk then scored when
Evan Kirk was hit by a pitch to make it 1-0. The Badgers then made it 2-0 off a sacrifice fly from
Angel Rivera to score Juez. Spring Hill reloaded the bases when Torres walked.
Following a lineout to second. Jones reached on an error that scored Copper to make it 3-0, then a walk from Webb scored Kirk to push the lead to 4-0. Now with two down and
Weston Kirk coming up, his two-run single through the right side pushed the lead to 6-0 before the inning ended.
The Badgers in the third added two more runs to go 8-0, but the Thorobreds in their half of the third plated a pair of runs to cut the lead to 8-2.
KSU in the fourth added three more runs to make it 8-5, but in the fifth Spring Hill added a run to go up 9-5. Little did the Badgers know that would be the deciding run as KSU added two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth to trail 9-8.
Reliever
Nathaniel Helton closed the door in the seventh to earn his third save of the season. He finished the game going an inning and a third, allowing just one hit.
Starting pitcher Ray Ocaha improved to 7-2 on the season. He allowed five runs on three hits over four innings, while striking out six.
Torres finished the contest going 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Jones tallied three hits to lead all Badger hitters.
Weston Kirk went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Cooper ended the game going 2-for-4 with a run scored.
