ATLANTA, Ga. – The Tuskegee Golden Tigers fought hard but came up short in both games of their SIAC doubleheader against Clark Atlanta on Sunday at Home Plate Field.
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The Golden Tigers fell in a tightly contested 8-7 game in the opener before dropping the second matchup 10-7. The losses move Tuskegee to 4-10 overall and 1-5 in conference play.
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Clark Atlanta 8, Tuskegee 7
The opening game of the doubleheader saw an early offensive explosion, with both teams scoring multiple runs in the first inning.
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Tuskegee jumped out to a 3-0 lead, capitalizing on a leadoff walk from
Nicholas Pratt, a single from
John Saffold, and an error that allowed
Ryan Morrow to reach safely.
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Jacobi Brooks then worked a bases-loaded walk to bring in a run, followed by a sacrifice fly from
Samarion Ward and another from
Devon Lee, giving the Golden Tigers a three-run cushion.
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Clark Atlanta responded immediately in the bottom of the first, plating six runs to take control early.
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After a leadoff hit-by-pitch and a stolen base, Jason Jones drove in a run with a single. A sacrifice fly made it 3-2 before Andrew Leonard crushed a triple to center, scoring two more runs to give Clark Atlanta the lead.
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Alijah Robinson followed with an RBI single, and by the time the dust settled, Tuskegee found themselves trailing 6-3.
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The Golden Tigers chipped away at the deficit, scoring a run in the fourth when
Alex Glass doubled to drive in
Jerald Bush. In the fifth, Brooks led off with a single, stole second and third, and came home on a groundout to trim the lead to 7-5.
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After seven scoreless half-innings, Tuskegee managed to tie the game in the top of the ninth.
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A leadoff walk from Saffold and a single from Brooks put runners in scoring position. Brooks later stole second and Morrow stole third, setting up a game-tying RBI single. However, Tuskegee could not push across the go-ahead run.
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Clark Atlanta took advantage of an error in the bottom of the ninth. After a leadoff walk, an errant throw allowed the runner to advance.
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A hit-by-pitch loaded the bases, and Jones delivered a game-winning RBI single to seal the 8-7 victory for Clark Atlanta.
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Isaiah Jones provided a strong effort in relief for Tuskegee, pitching 7.2 innings while allowing just two runs and striking out five. However, Lee (0-1) took the loss after allowing the game-winning hit.
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Clark Atlanta 10, Tuskegee 7
Tuskegee's bats were strong against Clark Atlanta on Sunday, but it wasn't enough as Tuskegee fell 10-7. Clark Atlanta collected five hits, while Tuskegee had eight.
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Tuskegee lost despite out-hitting Clark Atlanta eight to five, with Lee and
Nicholas Pratt each collected two hits.
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The Golden Tigers got on the board in the first inning after Morrow singled, scoring one run.
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Clark Atlanta flipped the game on its head in the bottom of the first, scoring nine runs on four hits to take the lead, 9-1. The biggest blow in the inning was a grand slam to left field that drove in four. An error extended the Clark Atlanta lead to 10-1 in the bottom of the second inning.
Tuskegee scored two runs in the top of the fourth on a home run to right field by Ward. Later in the game, Lee homered to right field, scoring two runs in the top of the sixth for the Tuskegee.
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Tuskegee made the score 10-7 in the top of the seventh inning when Pratt hit a solo home run to left field, and Brooks grounded out, scoring one run.
Lee took the loss for Tuskegee. The starting pitcher went one-third of an inning, surrendering eight runs on three hits, striking out none and walking one.
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Lee and Ward were a one-two punch in the lineup, as each drove in two runs for Tuskegee. Brooks and Saffold each stole multiple bases for Tuskegee. The Golden Tigers ran wild on the base paths, piling up eight stolen bases for the game.
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Up Next
The Golden Tigers will return to the diamond next weekend with a home series against conference opponent Morehouse starting Saturday at Washington Field.
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