SAVANNAH, Ga.- Savannah State opened their conference schedule with a 10-1 win over Kentucky State as
Jose Santiago pitched six innings, gave up one run and struck out nine batters in a game played February 17 at Tiger Field.
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The win keeps SSU undefeated at 4-0 and gives them a 1-0 record in the SIAC.
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Luke Sanders pitched 2.2 innings in relief for the Tigers and struck out two batters and Gerald Toledo retired the final batter with a ground out to the shortstop.
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In the bottom of the first inning,
D'Sean Prinkleton singled to right field, stole second and advanced to third base on a wild pitch. The junior from Canton, Georgia scored when
Hakem Smith grounded out to the shortstop, for a 1-0 SSU lead.
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The Thorobreds tied the game in the top of the second inning but Savannah State went ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the third as Addrian McNeal reached base on an error by the second baseman and scored on a single by
Kendal Spencer.
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For the next three innings, both teams left runners on base but nobody could score.
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But SSU added three runs in the bottom of the seventh and had five more cross home plate in the eighth inning to break the game open.
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In the seventh, McNeal led off with a single and Prinkleton followed with a double to put runners in scoring position. Both runners scored on a double by Spencer. After Spencer advanced to third on a wild pitch, he was able to score, thanks to a sacrifice fly by
Hunter Bradshaw for a 5-1 advantage.
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Jacob Rushin drew a walk in the eighth and scored on a wild pitch while Smith, Spencer, Bradshaw and
Jason Miller all hit run scoring singles to put KSU away.
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Both teams left ten runners on base in the game.
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Savannah State pounded out 15 hits with Spencer going 4-for-4 at the plate with 4 RBI and scoring two runs. Prinkleton went 4-for-5 with three runs scored and two stolen bases, McNeal had two hits and scored three runs, Bradshaw had two hits and 2 RBI and Smith drove in two runs.
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Treyvon Fletcher had two hits for KSU (4-3 while Dashawn Hureskin was tagged with the loss.
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