SAVANNAH, Ga.-  The Savannah State University baseball team opened their 2024 season with a17-3 win over visiting Bluefield State University, in a game played at Tiger Field on February 3, 2024.
 
Already leading 5-0, the Tigers broke the game open with seven runs in the sixth inning and added five more in the seventh, to put the game out of reach.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Hunter Bradshaw and Farah Castillo singled and both scored on a single by Brevin Smith. After a single by William Mahoney, Addrian McNeal hit a double that sent home Smith and Mahoney. That was followed by a single by D'Sean Prinkleton which allowed McNeal to score. After Hakem Smith reached on a fielder's choice, back-to-back doubles by Kendal Spencer and Bradshaw brought home H. Smith and Spencer for a 12-0 lead.
 
The following inning, Castillo led off with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. A single by Mahoney brought home Castillo and a double by McNeal advanced Mahoney to third base. After Prinkleton drew a walk to load the bases, Spencer hit a single that scored Mahoney and McNeal. The next batter, Bradshaw, reached base on a throwing error by the Bluefield State third baseman which allowed Prinkleton to score. The final run for the Tigers came when Desmore Joseph's single to center field brought home Spencer to make the score 17-0.
 
BSU scored twice in the top of the eighth and once in the ninth.
 
Savannah State opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning as H. Smith tripled in a run and Spencer hit a sacrifice fly that allowed Smith to score for an early 2-0 advantage.
 
In the third inning, McNeal led off with a single and came home on a home run over the left field wall by Prinkleton. H.Smith followed with a triple and Spencer drew a walk to put runners on the corners for Bradshaw who hit into a double play but it allowed H. Smith to score to put SSU ahead 5-0.
 
Seven Tigers had multiple hits in the game with McNeal collecting four hits and Castillo getting three. Prinkleton, Hakem Smith, Spencer, Bradshaw and Mahoney all had two hits each.
 
McNeal, Prinkleton and Hakem Smith all scored three runs while Spencer, Castillo and Mahoney all crossed home plate twice. Spencer drove in four runs, Prinkleton brought in three and McNeal and Brevin Smith had two RBI apiece.
 
Jose Santiago earned the win for the Tigers on the mound. Santiago pitched six innings and gave up three hits, no runs and one walk while striking out one.
 
Garret Hladilek had two hits for Bluefield State while Braeden Major was tagged with the loss. Major lasted four innings on the mound and surrendered six hits, five runs and two walks while recording three strikeouts.