MACON, Ga.- Savannah State found themselves down 10-4 after five innings of play but finished the game with seven unanswered runs over the final four innings in a 11-10 win over  Benedict on Thursday morning as they opened the quarterfinals of the 2025 Cricket SIAC Baseball Championships at Luther Williams Field.

A solo home run by Johan Sandoval in the bottom of the sixth drew the Tigers within 10-5 and SSU added six runs off two hits in the seventh to go ahead 11-10.

Reginald Tuggle led off the bottom half of the seventh with a walk, stole second and advanced to third on a balk. The 2025 Freshman of the Year scored on a single to right field by Kijani Clarington. Chandler Hicks followed with a single to center field and William Mahoney IV was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Julian Grier who was also hit by a pitch which allowed Clarington to cross home plate. Sandoval drew a walk which brought home Hicks and the next two batters, Kendal Spencer and Brevin Smith were both hit by pitches which allowed Mahoney and Grier to score to tie the game at 10-10. Following a pitching change, Tuggle hit a sacrifice fly to right field which allowed Sandoval to score the game-winning run.

Neither team scored in the eighth and SSU's Brayden Thomas struck out two of the three batters he faced in the ninth inning to win the game.

Early on, Savannah State was in a hole as they trailed by six runs.

In the bottom of the first, Sandoval was hit by a pitch and Spencer singled. A sacrifice fly by Smith allowed Sandoval to score and a double to center field by Tyler Tucker sent home Spencer for an early 2-0 lead.

Benedict scored twice in the top of the third to tie the game but back-to-back doubles by Smith and Tuggle in the bottom half of the inning gave SSU a 3-2 advantage.

The #6 seed Benedict Tigers left the bases juiced in the top of the fifth but were able to score eight runs off four hits to pull ahead 10-3.

Smith and Tucker both hit singles for SSU in the bottom of the fifth and Smith found his way to home plate on a sacrifice fly by Clarington to make the score 10-4.

Both teams had ten hits and SSU left nine runners on base while Benedict left seven.

Sandoval finished the game with a home run and a double while Smith, Tuggle and Tucker all added a double. Spencer stole two bases while Sandoval an Tuggle both swiped one base.

Austin McCormack started the game on the mound and lasted 4.1 innings while recording four strikeouts and giving up eight hits, nine runs and three walks. Adonis Perez pitched 2.2 innings and gave up two hits, one run and a pair of walks while striking out one. Thomas finished the last two innings for SSU and struck out three without surrendering a run, hit or walk.

The win marks the fourth consecutive year that Savannah State (30-12, 24-9 SIAC) has at least 30 wins in a single season.

The #3 seed Tigers advance in the Winner's Bracket where it will face #2 seed Edward Waters on Friday, May 2, at 6 p.m.

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