SAVANNAH, Ga.- Savannah State snapped their five game losing skid with a double-header win over Clark Atlanta on Friday afternoon a Tiger Field.
The Tigers opened the weekend series with a 12-2 win and had to rally from a three-run deficit to beat CAU in the second game 5-4.
The win improves SSU to 3-5 overall and gives them a 2-0 start in the SIAC.
Savannah State scored a dozen runs on just six hits in the first game as
Jayden Clark,
Johan Sandoval,
Yan Cartaya and
Jason Ramos all drove in two runs apiece.
Following three scoreless innings, the Tigers exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the fourth, which included a two-run double by Clark.
SSU increased their lead to 11-0 with three runs in the fifth with Cartaya and
Chandler Hicks both hitting RBI singles.
The Panthers scored a run in the top of the sixth but a sacrifice fly by
Noah Rodriguez that scored
Kijani Clarington gave Savannah State a 12-1 advantage.
Clark Atlanta added a run in the seventh to complete the scoring in the game.
Cartaya had two hits and scored twice for the Tigers while Sandoval, Clarington and
Gavin Jusino all scored two times.
Austin McCormack and
Jordan Jackson combined to limit the Panthers to four hits. McCormack struck out four batters in his six innings while Jackson pitched the final inning and didn't allow a hit and struck out one.
Clark Atlanta scored twice in the top of the first inning in the second game but SSU cut their lead in half in the bottom of the inning when Clark was hit by a pitch and scored on a ground-out by Cartaya.
The Panthers went ahead 4-1 in the top of the fourth but their bats went silent after that as SSU finished the game with four unanswered runs.
Hicks led off the bottom of the fourth with a double and scored on a ground-out by
Julian Grier to make the score 4-2.
In the fifth, Hicks hit a RBI single to get the Tigers within one. Back-to-back singles by Clarington and Clark in the sixth put runners in scoring position for Sandoval whose single to right field brought home Clarington to tie the game. The next batter, Cartaya, reached base on an fielder's choice which allowed Clark to score the game winner.
Hicks finished the game with two doubles and a single while Cartaya drove in two runs and Clark scored twice.
Gregorio Gonzalez pitched three innings in relief of
Evan Coartney and struck out eight batters. Coartney struck out two in his three innings while
Adonis Perez pitched the final inning and struck out one.
Savannah State and Clark Atlanta will close out their three-game series on Saturday morning at 10 a.m.
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