COLUMBIA, S.C.- Savannah State ended their 2024 regular season with a three-game sweep of Benedict in games played at Benedict's Tiger Field.
 
Savannah State beat Benedict in a double-header on April 26 by scores of 15-4 and 13-2 and completed the sweep on April 27 with a 17-1 victory.
 
The Tigers outscored Benedict 45-7 in the three-game series.
 
In the first game, SSU trailed 1-0 after two innings but a two-run single by D'Sean Prinkleton in the top of the third put Savannah State on top 2-1.
 
Benedict tied the game in the bottom of the third but a RBI double by Desmore Joseph II gave SSU a 3-2 advantage in the fourth inning.
 
The Tigers broke the game open with six runs in the top of the sixth as Jadon Oden hit a two-run single while Jason Miller, Addrian McNeal Jr and Kendal Spencer all hit RBI singles.
 
Benedict got one of their runs back in the seventh but SSU responded by scoring twice in the eighth when Hakem Smith and Miller both drew walks with the bases loaded to bring in a run to increase the Tiger lead to 11-3.
 
In the top of the ninth Hunter Bradshaw hit a two-run double, Prinkleton stole home and a ground-out by Joseph resulted in a run being scored.
 
The Tigers stole 15 bases in the game with Spencer getting six and Prinkleton swiping three.
 
At the plate, McNeal went 3-for-4 and scored three times while Spencer also had three hits and scored twice. Prinkleton had three RBI and scored twice, Hunter scored three times and drove in a pair of runs, Oden had two hits, two RBI and scored twice while  Joseph and Miller both had two hits and two RBI.
 
Jose Santiago pitched six inning and struck out four.
 
With the bases loaded in the top of the first inning in the second game, Hunter Bradshaw reached base on a fielder's choice that allowed Jadon Oden to score for a 1-0 lead.
 
Benedict tied the game in the bottom of the first.
 
The Tigers loaded the bases in the second for Addrian McNeal Jr who reached base on a throwing error by the first baseman that allowed Chandler Hicks and Jacob Rushin to score. McNeal ended up scoring on a wild pitch to give SSU a 4-1 lead.
 
A RBI single by Kendal Spencer in the fourth extended Savannah State's lead to 5-1.
 
In the top of the fifth, Desmore Joseph II singled and Jacob Rushin followed with a double. A sacrifice bunt by William Mahoney IV along with a throwing error by the pitcher allowed Joseph and Rushin to score. A double to left field by Oden brought home Mahoney and a ground-out by McNeal allowed Oden to cross home plate for a 9-1 lead.
 
Prinkleton was issued a walk to lead off the sixth and Hunter Bradshaw reached base because of a throwing error. A single to left field brought home Prinkleton and when Rushin reached base because of a throwing error by the second baseman, Bradshaw scored. Joseph scored on a out by Mahoney and a RBI single by Oden allowed Rushin to cross home plate for a 13-1 lead.
 
Benedict managed one run in the bottom half of the inning.
 
Oden stole two bases, had three hits, two RBI and scored four times in the win. Joseph had two hits and scored twice, Rushin scored three times and Hicks had two hits.
 
Brevin Smith pitched five innings and struck out three batters.
 
In the final game of the series, the Tigers led 1-0 after the first inning but broke the contest open with ten runs in the third inning.
 
Jadon Oden led off with a double and advanced to third base on a ground-out by Addrian McNeal Jr. Following a walk to Kendal Spencer, a single by D'Sean Prinkleton through the left side of the infield allowed Oden to score. A single up the middle by Hunter Bradshaw brought home Spencer and a single by Hakem Smith to left field brought home Prinkleton. The Tigers went ahead 7-0 on a two-run home run by Desmore Joseph II that was hit over the left field fence. Jason Miller followed with a double down the left field line and William Mahoney IV's hit to right field brought home Miller. Oden came to the plate again and this time reached on a fielder's choice. A single by Spencer allowed Mahoney and Oden to score while Spencer scored on a wild pitch to give SSU a 11-0 lead.
 
In the fourth, Hakem Smith hit a triple, Joseph was issued a walk and Miller hit a single that scored Smith. Joseph was able to score when Mahoney reached base because of a fielder's choice for a 13-0 advantage.
 
A RBI double by Bradshaw and a two-run triple by Smith in the sixth pushed the Tigers lead to 16-0.
 
Benedict scored their lone run in the bottom of the sixth but in the top of the seventh, Brevin Smith drew a walk and scored on a sacrifice fly by Addrian McNeal Jr.
 
Oden scored twice for Savannah State, Spencer had three runs and two RBI, Bradshaw had two runs, two runs and two RBI, Smith had three hits, three RBI and scored twice, Joseph had two RBI and two runs, Miller had two hits and Mahoney had two RBI.
 
Franciso Arraut was the winning pitcher.
 
Savannah State finishes the regular season with a 28-13 overall record and a 21-12 SIAC record.
 
The Tigers will play in the 2024 Cricket SIAC Baseball Championship on May 2-5 in Albany, Georgia on the campus of Albany State.
 
SSU will be the fourth seed.