SAVANNAH, Ga.- Savannah State improved their SIAC record to 5-0 following a double header sweep of Kentucky State on Sunday afternoon at Tiger Field.
The Tigers rallied for a 8-7 win in the first game and completed the sweep with a 5-4 victory in the second game.
It was SSU's sixth win in a row as they improved to 7-5 overall.
The winning runs in both games were scored on wild pitches and both runs were scored by
Johan Sandoval.
In the opener, the Thorobreds scored a run in the first inning but Savannah State answered with three runs in the bottom of the second when
Jason Ramos scored on a wild pitch and Sandoval hit a two run double.
After KSU scored a run in the fifth, Sandoval hit a RBI double in the bottom of the inning for a 4-2 Tiger lead.
Kentucky State scored five times off two hits in the seventh to go in front 7-4 but SSU responded with two runs in the eighth and two more in the ninth.
In the eighth,
Seth Stargell entered the game as a pinch runner for
Kidane Stephens and scored when
Gavin Jusino hit into a double play and Noah Rodridguez scored on a wild pitch.
Jayden Clark and Sandoval started the bottom of the ninth with walks and when
Chandler Hicks reached base on a fielder's choice, Clark scored to tie the game. Following a strikeout by Stargell, Sandoval scored the winning run on a wild pitch.
Sandoval, Clark, Ramos and Jusino all had two hits for SSU while Clark scored three times and Sandoval had three RBI.
Adonis Perez pitched 2.2 innings in relief and struck out five batters while giving up one hit, two runs and five walks.
The Thorobreds began the second game with runs in the first and second innings for a 2-0 advantage.
In the bottom of the second, SSU sent three runners across home plate with
Tyler Tucker,
Hakem Smith and
Kijani Clarington scoring runs.
Kentucky State tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the third but the Tigers would answer in the bottom half of the third when Tucker hit a run scoring double.
A run by KSU in the fourth tied the game at 4-4.
Sandoval led off the fifth with a triple to left field and scored the game winner on a wild pitch.
Tucker, Smith, Stargell and
Bryce Bause all chipped in two hits for Savannah State.
Sandoval, Tucker and Clarington all hit triples for SSU while
Bynton Edge pitched four innings in relief and struck out eight batters while surrendering one hit, one run and two walks.
SSU and Kentucky State will finish the three-game series on February 23 at 11 a.m. at Tiger Field.
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