OAKLAND PARK, Fla.- Savannah State opened their 2026 season by splitting a doubleheader with Fort Lauderdale. The games were played on Davis Field at Northeast High School.

The Tigers won the first game 5-4 but fell short in the nightcap 17-2.

In the first game, Savannah State scored in the second and third innings for a 2-0 lead. 

The Eagles sent three runners across home plate in the bottom of the eighth to take the lead but SSU rallied to score three times in the top of the ninth for a 5-3 advantage.

Fort Lauderdale scored once in the bottom of the ninth but could get no closer.

Savannah State had ten hits in the contest with Johan Sandoval collecting two doubles and a single while driving in a run. Hakem Smith hit two doubles, had two RBI and scored a run. Tyler Tucker Kidane Stephens both had a pair of singles with Tucker driving in a run while Kijani Clarington had a hit and crossed home plate twice. Bryce Bause scored a run and Gabe Breckenridge had a hit.

SSU used four pitchers in the game with Gregorio Gonzalez getting the start and going five innings with six strikeouts. Bynton Edge followed with two innings and allowing one run. Adonis Perez pitched one and a third and surrendered four runs while Salvatore Urso closed the game with the final two outs in the bottom of the ninth and was awarded the win.

The second game saw the Tiger pitchers get roughed up for 16 hits while giving up 17 runs.

Fort Lauderdale scored early and often with four runs in the first and second innings for a 8-0 lead. 

The Eagles added four more runs in the bottom of the fifth ti increase their margin to 12-0.

Savannah State scored both of their runs in the top of the sixth but Fort Lauderdale answered with five runs in the bottom half of the inning to make the score 17-2.

Smith and Chandler Hicks both scored and had a single and a double for the Tigers. Breckenridge had a RBI single for SSU. Clarington, Sandoval and Stephens all had one hit.

Evan Coartney earned the start on the mound in the second game for SSU and gave up six runs in 1.1 innings. He was replaced by Joshua Krutchik who lasted 2.2 innings while surrendering two runs and two walks. Jordan Payne struck out two batters in his lone inning but allowed Fort Lauderdale to score eight runs. Yan Cartaya pitched one inning and gave up one run. 

The trip to South Florida was a homecoming for Krutchik and Cartaya. Krutchik is from Miami and Cartaya if from Hialeah. Both cities are about 40 miles from Fort Lauderdale 

Savannah State (1-1) and the Eagles to wrap up their three-game series on Sunday at 12 noon.

Stay Connected
For complete coverage of Savannah State University Athletics, follow the Tigers on social media @SavStateTigers on Facebook, Instagram, and X (Formerly Known As Twitter), or visit the official online home of SSU Athletics at http://ssuathletics.com.