MACON, Ga.- Savannah State saw their 2026 season come to an end following their 13-10 loss to Benedict in the elimination game in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament on Sunday afternoon at Luther Williams Field.
In a battle of the Tigers, Savannah State entered the game as the #4 seed while Benedict was the #6 seed.
The game was a slugfest with SSU getting 15 hits and Benedict collecting 14 hits.
It was a close game until Benedict got some separation with six runs in the top of the sixth.
Benedict scored a run in the top of the first inning but SSU answered in the bottom half of the inning when
Johan Sandoval hit a single to center field and later scored on
Kidane Stephens' single to tie the game.
Benedict added another run in the top of the second and once again, Savannah State had an answer when
Bryce Bause hit a double and scored on a groundout by
Hakem Smith.
In the top of the third, Benedict sent four runners across home plate to go in front 6-2.
Savannah State left the bases juiced in the bottom of the third but not before scoring five times to go in front, 7-6.
After outs by
Jayden Clark and Stephens,
Tyler Tucker hit a home run over the left field fence. Bause hit a single which was followed by back-to-back walks issued to
Julian Grier and Smith to load the bases for
Jason Ramos who hit a single up the middle that scored Bause and Grier.
Gabe Breckenridge hit a single through the left side of the infield that scored Smith that tied the game at six. Sandoval was hit by a pitch to re-load the bases for Clark who drew a walk that brought home Ramos for the go-ahead run.
The top of the sixth saw Benedict score six runs off just one hit to go back in front 12-7.
Savannah State added runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to pull within 12-10.
In the sixth, Ramos hit a single that scored Stephens, in the seventh, Tucker hit a single down the right field line that scored
Chandler Hicks and in the bottom of the eighth, Ramos scored on a sacrifice fly by Sandoval.
Benedict scored a run in the top of the ninth for a 13-10 lead.
Savannah State's rally in the bottom of the ninth never got off the ground with Stephens grounding out to the third baseman and Tucker and Bause striking out to end the game.
Benedict finished the game stranding 16 runners while Savannah State left 13 runners on base.
Ramos went 4-for-4 at the plate with three RBI and two runs, Tucker had two hits and two RBI and Bause had two hits and two runs. Stephens added three hits and Breckenridge collected two hits.
The Tigers used five pitchers in the contest who combined to strike out nine batters while giving up seven earned runs and seven walks.
Joshua Krutchik pitched 2.2 innings,
Adonis Perez pitched 2.1 innings,
Tyriq Snead pitched one third of an inning,
Austin Jackson went 2.2 innings and struck out four batters and Byton Edge pitched the final inning.
Savannah State ends their season with a 27-20 overall record and posted a 23-10 record in the SIAC.
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