FRANKFORT, Ky. __ Tuskegee baseball fell in a series opening doubleheader on Friday to SIAC opponent Kentucky State, dropping games 9-4 and 12-8 at Western Hills Baseball Field.
Kentucky State 9, Tuskegee 4
Tuskegee fell 9-4 in the first game of Friday's doubleheader after Kentucky State outhit TU 11 to eight in the series opening contest.
After a scoreless first inning, the Golden Tigers opened the scoring in the second with an RBI single from
James Slaughter, scoring
Scott Williams for the first run. The lead was short-lived, as KSU answered in the bottom half of the frame on a sacrifice fly to left field to tie the game at 1-1.
Tuskegee regained the lead in the third on an error, however Kentucky State tied the game again at 2-2 thanks to a two-out RBI single to left field. The Golden Tigers regained control again in the top of the sixth, earning singles from Williams,
Alex Glass, and
Brian Hardaway II, with the Glass single to left scoring a run, giving TU a 3-2 lead.
Kentucky State made the score 6-2 in the bottom half of the sixth after a homer to right field to score three runs, followed by an RBI single before the close of the inning. The Thorobreds added another three runs in the eighth thanks to four hits and took the 9-4 game after a bases loaded walk in the fourth from Tuskegee.
Rodney Mudd II opened the game on the mound for the Golden Tigers, allowing eight hits and six runs over five and two-thirds innings. The freshman also struck out two batters.
Tyee Turner worked two and one-third innings out of the bullpen, allowing four hits and three runs, striking out two and walking one.
Slaughter and Williams combined for four of the nine combined hits in the game, while Glass, Slaughter, and
Stephon Wright each drove in one run in the loss.
Kentucky State 12, Tuskegee 8
Both teams poured in the runs in game two, yet Tuskegee fell to drop the doubleheader with a 12-8 game to close the day. Both teams collected 12 hits and four errors in the contest.
The Thorobreds got on the board in the first inning after an RBI single, taking the first lead. They later added another run in the third on another RBI single, this time on a six-pitch at bat, making the score 2-0.
Tuskegee fought back to take its first lead of the game in the top of the fourth thanks to three runs and three hits in the frame.
Julian Grier led off the inning reaching base on a fielder's choice play, before scoring as Williams, the next batter, doubled down the line to get on the board. TU scored its second run on a passed ball, before
Elgin Neal II singled to right field to take the 3-2 lead.
Kentucky State tied the game not long after, scoring on a wild pitch in the fourth. After blanking TU in the top of the fifth, KSU added two in the bottom half of the inning before breaking the game open with a seven-run outing in the sixth.
Hardaway II hit a solo shot in the sixth for the fourth run for Tuskegee, who fought back with another four runs in the seventh, thanks to another three hits and two KSU errors, however, could not complete the rally, falling 12-8.
Devon Lee took the loss for the Golden Tigers, starting and working for four and one-third innings, allowing five runs on seven hits, striking out eight and walking four.
Jacori McGee made an appearance out of the bullpen, working for 1.2 innings.
Up Next
Tuskegee will close out the regular season with the final game of the three-game series against Kentucky State on Sunday. First pitch for the finale is set for 11 a.m. ET.
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