SAVANNAH, Ga.- D'Sean Prinkleton went 3-for-4 at the plate with seven RBI and two runs scored to lead Savannah State to a 18-8 non-conference win over Claflin in a game played April 9, 2024 at Tiger Field.
 
The 6-foot-1 outfielder from Canton, Georgia had a three-run triple in the second inning, a RBI sacrifice fly in the third and sixth innings and a two-run single in the seventh inning.
 
Savannah State upped their overall record to 23-8 with the victory.
 
With the score tied at eight, the Tigers finished the final four and a half inning by outscoring Claflin 10-0.
 
The Panthers scored twice in the top of the first inning and SSU answered with a run in the bottom of the first when Chandler Hicks hit a sacrifice fly to left field that allowed Jadon Oden to score.
 
Claflin added another run in the top of the second for a 3-1 lead.
 
In the bottom half of the second, SSU scored seven times off five hits.
 
Farah Castillo drew a walk and went to second base on a balk by the Claflin pitcher. A single by Jadon Oden sent Castillo to third base and a single down the right field line by Addrian McNeal Jr allowed Castillo and Oden to cross home plate. A walk to Hunter Bradshaw and a single by Chandler Hicks loaded the bases for D'Sean Prinkleton who hit a triple to left field that cleared the bases. Desmore Joseph II drew a walk and Jason Miller followed with a single to left field that brought home Prinkleton. A walk to Castillo loaded the bases for Oden who also drew a walk which sent home Joseph to give the Tigers a 8-3 lead.
 
Claflin scored five runs in the top of the third to tie the game at eight.
 
In the bottom half of the inning, Kendal Spencer drew a walk and a triple to left center field by Hicks put SSU ahead 9-8. A sacrifice fly by Prinkleton allowed Hicks to cross home plate for a 10-8 advantage.
 
In the fourth inning, Oden drew a walk and scored on a fielder's choice by Spencer.
 
SSU loaded the bases in the fifth when Hicks was hit by a pitch, Prinkleton singled to left field and Jacob Rushin drew a walk. Jason Miller flied out to the right fielder but a throwing error by the first baseman allowed Hicks to score. Prinkleton took advantage of a wild pitch and scored to increase the Tigers lead to 13-8.
 
Savannah State had the basepads full in the bottom of the sixth with Spencer hitting a triple, Bradshaw drawing a walk and Hicks getting hit by a pitch. Prinkleton hit a sacrifice fly which allowed Spencer to score to put SSU ahead 14-8.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Hakem Smith and Bradshaw would hit RBI singles while Prinkleton would add a two-run single for the final runs of the contest.
 
The Tigers ended the game with 13 hits while leaving a dozen runners on base while making a pair of errors. Claflin had ten hits while making six errors and leaving seven runners on base.
 
Oden had a double for SSU while Spencer, Hicks and Prinkleton all hit triples. Oden, Bradshaw, Miller and Spencer all stole a base.
 
Savannah State used six pitchers in the game. Luke Sanders pitched three innings and struck out four batters while allowing two hits and no runs or walks.
 
Claflin (1-35) was led by Michael Coit who had two RBI. Jordan Jackson was the losing pitcher.
 
Savannah State will return to SIAC play on April 12 when they travel to Edward Waters for a three-game series.