TUSKEGEE, Ala. – Tuskegee baseball dropped a pair of hard-fought contests in Friday's doubleheader against SIAC opponent Edward Waters at Washington Field, falling 11-7 in game one and 8-5 in game two.
Despite generating consistent offensive production, the Golden Tigers couldn't overcome a fast-starting Edward Waters team.
With the results, Tuskegee falls to 11-19 overall and 8-12 in SIAC play, while Edward Waters improves to 20-13 and 13-7 in the conference.
Edward Waters 11, Tuskegee 7
In the opener, Tuskegee was on the wrong end of a high-scoring affair that saw both teams combined for 27 hits.
Edward Waters got off to a quick start, plating a run in the first and erupting for four more in the third inning behind a trio of RBI singles.
The visitors added insurance with two more in the fourth and a three-run sixth to pull away.
Tuskegee chipped away behind timely hitting, including a pair of RBIs each from
Devon Lee,
Alex Glass, and
John Saffold.
Saffold continued his hot streak at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a pair of runs driven in.
Jacobi Brooks,
Ryan Morrow, and
Samarion Ward also posted two hits apiece, as the Golden Tigers finished with 12 as a team.
On the mound,
Richard Powell IV took the loss after tossing five innings, allowing 11 hits and eight runs, six of which were earned.
Edward Waters starter Anthony Bayyat picked up the win, scattering nine hits and three runs across 5.2 innings.
Misael Ramos led all hitters, going 4-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored, while Chase Morris and Jordan Smith also drove in two runs each for the Tigers in purple and gold.
Defensively, Tuskegee turned two double plays and swiped three stolen bases.
Edward Waters countered with eight stolen bags, including two each from Smith and Morris, taking full advantage of their speed on the basepaths.
Edward Waters 8, Tuskegee 5
Game two followed a similar pattern with another competitive showing from Tuskegee, who again had opportunities to come away with the win.
Edward Waters struck first in the top of the fourth after a fielder's choice by Medina allowed a run to score.
Tuskegee answered immediately in the bottom of the frame when Glass launched a solo homer to left to tie the game at one.
However, Edward Waters seized momentum in the fifth, scoring three more runs on a groundout from Caden Hutchinson and an RBI single from J.C. Medina.
The Golden Tigers pulled within striking distance again behind a two-RBI effort from Lee and an efficient 2-for-2 day at the plate from Glass.
Morrow added two stolen bases to keep pressure on the defense, but Tuskegee couldn't quite capitalize in the late innings.
Bobby Morgan was charged with the loss after throwing five innings and allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits.
Up Next
Tuskegee returns to the diamond on Saturday to close out the three-game weekend series against Edward Waters. First pitch at Washington Field is set for 10 a.m. as the Golden Tigers look to bounce back and salvage the series finale.
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