TUSKEGEE, Ala. – Tuskegee Baseball returns to Washington Field for a pivotal three-game Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) series this weekend, welcoming the Benedict College for what promises to be a competitive and energetic slate of games.
The series begins Friday, April 11 at 2 p.m., and continues with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 12, with first pitches scheduled for 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Tuskegee enters the weekend with a 12-25 overall record and an 8-16 mark in SIAC play, while Benedict arrives in strong form at 15-10 overall and 13-10 in the conference.
ABOUT TUSKEGEE (12-25, 8-16 SIAC)
Despite a challenging road record (3-18), the Golden Tigers have been far more competitive at Washington Field, where they are 9-7 this season.
Offensively, Tuskegee is hitting .285 as a team, led by standout sophomore Ryan Morrow, who boasts a .368 batting average with 43 hits, 33 RBIs, and a .496 slugging percentage. He's supported by a productive cast that includes John Saffold (.326 AVG) and Devon Lee (.301 AVG, .495 SLG).
Jabari Johnson (.350 AVG) and Alex Glass (.342 AVG) round out the top of the order with consistent contact and speed.
The Golden Tigers have also shown aggressiveness on the bases with 156 stolen bases in 190 attempts, one of the best success rates in the SIAC.
On the mound, however, Tuskegee continues to search for consistency. The pitching staff carries a team ERA of 8.52, surrendering 260 earned runs over 274.2 innings.
Sophomore Amare Morgan (5.85 ERA in 47.2 IP) and Richard Powell IV (6.58 ERA in 53.1 IP) have logged the most starts, but free passes have plagued the group, with opponents drawing 273 walks while also collecting 310 hits.
Defensively, the Golden Tigers hold a .949 team fielding percentage, with 63 errors on the season. While several individual players such as James Slaughter, Nicholas Pratt, and Jerald Bush maintain perfect fielding percentages, errors have been costly in tight games .
ABOUT BENEDICT (15-10, 13-10 SIAC)
Benedict enters the weekend as one of the most dangerous offensive teams in the SIAC.
The Tigers are hitting an eye-popping .335 as a team, led by the conference's top hitter Juan Guardado, who owns a .431 batting average, 10 home runs, and a staggering 1.034 slugging percentage.
Isaiah Canty (.424 AVG) and Kenyan Conner Jr. (.368 AVG, 30 RBIs) provide further firepower, combining for 64 RBIs and 18 home runs between them.
The Tigers also possess incredible plate discipline, having drawn 149 walks and absorbed 66 hit-by-pitches, helping them post a team on-base percentage of .470. They've driven in 241 runs in just 25 games and excel in base-running with 86 stolen bases in 99 attempts.
On the mound, Benedict carries a team ERA of 7.75. Brailin Duran leads the rotation with a 4-0 record and 53 strikeouts across 54.1 innings, posting a 5.13 ERA.
Tymon Holloman and Shane Williams add depth but have also struggled with control at times, combining for 27 walks in 47.2 innings. The staff has allowed 228 runs and 233 hits in just under 192 innings pitched.
This weekend's series holds postseason implications, as both teams look to strengthen their positions ahead of the SIAC Tournament.
Benedict currently holds the upper hand in the standings but has shown vulnerability on the road (4-5 away record), whereas Tuskegee has played its best baseball in front of the home crowd.
Tuskegee's success will depend on slowing down Benedict's red-hot bats while capitalizing on their own speed and small-ball capabilities.
Pitching efficiency, defensive execution, and timely hitting will be the deciding factors in what should be an exciting matchup between two programs looking to make a late-season push.
How to Follow the Golden Tigers
For complete information on Tuskegee Golden Tigers Baseball, visit GoldenTigerSports.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
