SAVANNAH, Ga.- Savannah State University's home opener did not go as planned as the Tigers were swept in a doubleheader on Friday afternoon by the University of Illinois Springfield in games played at Tiger Field.

The Prairie Stars beat Savannah State 15-3 and 10-6.

In the first game, the Tigers pitching staff surrendered eight hits, 15 runs and 13 walks while striking out ten batters. The SSU offense collected seven hits and left ten runners stranded.

Illinois Springfield scored three times in the top of the first inning. In the bottom half of the first, the Tigers had the bases loaded but could only push run sun across home plate .

Johan Sandoval singled, Hakem Smith was hit by a pitch and Chandler Hicks drew a walk to load the bases. After Kidane Stephens struck out for the second out, Tyler Tucker singled to score Sandoval to make the score 3-1.

Savannah State did not score again until the bottom of the seventh.

Julian Grier drew a walk, advanced to second base on a ground-out and made his way to third and scored on a wild pitch. Sandoval, Smith and Stephens all drew walks to load the bases and a walk to Tucker brought home Sandoval for the final run of the game.

In addition to their three runs in the first inning, Illinois Springfield scored twice in the second and fourth innings and four times in the sixth and seventh innings.

Tucker went 2-for-3 at the plate for Savannah State with two RBI.

Gregorio Gonzalez was tagged with the loss. Gonzalez lasted 1.1 innings and gave up two hits, five runs and five walks while recording a pair of strikeouts.

In the second game, Illinois Springfield led 2-0 after scoring runs in the top of the third and fourth innings. Savannah State answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth with Hicks reaching base on a fielder's choice and scoring on a single by Kijani Clarington. A single by Tucker brought home Clarington to tie the game.

The Prairie Stars added three more runs in the fifth and once again SSU responded with two runs as Smith led off with a triple and scored on a double by Sandoval. A ground-out by Hicks allowed Sandoval to score to cut the SSU deficit to 5-4.

Illinois Springfield increased their lead to 10-4 with two runs in the sixth and three in the seventh.

Savannah State scored two times in the bottom of the ninth when Seth Stargell and David Sanders drew walks and Jason Ramos was hit by a pitch to load the bases. A walk to Zachary Turner allowed Stargell to score and when Gavin Jusino reached base on a fielder's choice, it allowed Sanders to cross home plate.

Sandoval and Jayden Clark both hit doubles and Smith hit a triple for the Tigers.

SSU (1-4) used four pitchers who combined for seven strikeouts. Evan Coartney had three strikeouts and Yan Cartaya struck out four.

The teams will wrap up the three game series on February 7 with the first pitch being at 10 a.m.

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