BIRMINGHAM, Ala- Savannah State opened their weekend series with Miles by splitting a doubleheader on Saturday at Rickwood Field.

The Tigers won the first game 4-0 but lost the second game 14-11.

The same two teams will decide the series on Sunday 1 p.m.

Brayden Thomas struck out seven batters in the first game as he held the Bears to seven hits while at the plate, Kendal Spencer, Chandler Hicks, Julian Grier and Kijani Clarington all had two hits.


Clarington hit a RBI single in the second inning and Spencer had a RBI single in the third to give SSU a 2-0 lead.

In the top of the ninth, William Mahoney IV reached base on an error by the centerfielder and advanced to third on a double by Clarington. A single to left field by Hicks allowed Mahoney to score and a balk by the Miles pitcher sent home Clarington for the final run of the game.

Mahoney scored twice in the victory.

The second game saw Miles take a 4-0 lead after two innings of play but the Tigers sent four runners across home plate in the top of the third to tie the game with Hunter Bradshaw hitting a RBI triple, Reginald Tuggle hitting a RBI double and Clarington hitting a RBI single. Johan Sandoval added a sacrifice fly that scored Tuggle.

Miles added five more runs in the bottom of the third to go back in front 9-4 and sent another run across home plate in the fifth for a 10-4 advantage.

Hicks led off the top of the sixth with a double and Grier followed with a single to put runners on the corners. Tuggle reached base thanks to an error by the shortstop which allowed Hicks to score and a sacrifice fly by Spencer sent home Grier to cut SSU's deficit to 10-6.

The Bears scored four times in the bottom of the sixth to increase their advantage to eight.

Savannah State rallied to push five runs across home plate in the seventh but it would not be enough.

David Sanders drew a walk and Clarington and Hicks hit back-to-back singles to load the bases for Grier whose single to left field allowed Sanders to score. A single to right field by Bradshaw sent home Clarington and when Tuggle was hit by a pitch, it allowed Hicks to score. Spencer grounded into a double play but Grier was able to score and a single by Brevin Smith brought home Bradshaw for the final run of the day.

SSU ended the game with a dozen hits and left ten runners on base.

Grier had three hits and scored three times, Tuggle had three RBI, Bradshaw added two hits, two RBI and scored twice while Hicks had two hits and scored twice and Clarington had two hits.

Gregorio Gonzalez was the losing pitcher. The sophomore left hander lasted 2.1 innings and gave up four hits, eight runs and four walks while recording two strikeouts.

The split gives SSU a 17-9 overall record and a 14-6 SIAC record.

The two teams will conclude their series on Sunday afternoon at 1:00pm.

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