JACKSON, Tenn. __ Tuskegee baseball (5-14, 4-6 SIAC) split a Sunday doubleheader on the road against SIAC opponent Lane College, taking the first game 7-6, before falling 4-3 at Fesmire Baseball Field.
Tuskegee 7, Lane 6
Both teams brought their bats to the plate in the opening game, as the Golden Tigers pounded out nine hits, compared to eight for Lane in the contest.
Devon Lee led TU at the plate, going 3-for-4 to go along with three runs batted in and one run scored.
Cody Willis went 2-for-4 in the game and driving home two runs.
After a scoreless first inning, Tuskegee got on the board in the top of the second, as
Alex Glass drew a walk to get on base,
Jerald Bush was hit by a pitch, and
Nicholas Pratt walked on the next at-bat to load the bases. Next up, Lee and Willis drew consecutive walks to bring home the first two runs of the game.
Lane responded in the bottom half of the third, scoring three runs off two hits, three walks and one batter hit by pitch to take a 3-2 lead.
The Golden Tigers regained the lead in the fourth, adding two runs to their totals for the 4-3 score, behind a trio of hits, including a single from Bush, RBI triple from Lee, and RBI double from Willis to regain the lead at 4-3.
Lane later added one score each in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings, along with the seven to grab a 6-4 lead heading into the eighth. From there, the Golden Tigers scored on a groundout from Pratt, and a single to center field from Lee for his third RBI of the game. They added a final run to secure the win in the top of the ninth as
Elgin Neal II drove home the last fun on an infield single.
Mikelle Mason earned the start on the mound for Tuskegee, working three and one-third innings, allowing three hits, four runs (three earned), while walking seven.
Tyee Turner (1-1) came out of the bullpen to earn the win, allowing five hits and two runs, while walking four and striking out one in the win.
Lane 4, Tuskegee 3
In game two, Tuskegee relinquished a late lead, to lose in the seventh, as Lane scored two final runs to take the 4-3 lead to split the doubleheader.
Neither team would cross the plate for the first three innings, until a walk and two singles from Lane to get the bases loaded with one out. The next at-bat resulted in a sacrifice fly to left field, giving the Dragons the 1-0 lead heading into the fifth.
In that frame, Tuskegee finally got runs on the board, as
James Slaughter started the inning off with a single and stole second, followed by
Scott Williams reaching on an error, and
Harrison Barnes being hit by a pitch. With the bases loaded,
Julian Grier reached on a fielder's choice play, driving home Slaughter. Williams later scored for the 2-1 lead for TU on the base paths as Grier attempted to steal second base. Tuskegee added another run in the sixth on a groundout by Lee.
Lane pulled within one run after a score in the bottom of the sixth, before earning four hits in the final inning to score the final two runs in walk-off fashion.
Lee started on the mound in game two for Tuskegee, pitching six innings and allowing four hits and two runs, while walking five and striking out two. Willis took the mound in the seventh and took the loss, allowing four hits and two runs against five batters.
Ryan Morrow went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate in game two, followed by Lee, Neal, Pratt, and Slaughter who combined for the other four hits in the contest.
Up Next
The two teams will conclude the series on Monday, with first pitch for the final game of the series scheduled for 12 noon at the Fesmire Baseball Field.
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