TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Playing without five of its regular starters, Stillman College dropped Game 3 of its Southern States Athletic Conference opening series to Blue Mountain Christian University, 24-2, on Sunday. 

The Tigers pushed across two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Devin Kelly walked to lead off the inning and stole second base before Varrick Lawrence singled through the left side to drive in the run. Oscar Taveras later singled down the third-base line to score Lawrence. 

Stillman five hits in the game. Bobby Woodard, playing in his first game in nearly three weeks, singled to lead off the bottom of the first inning. Geoff Grier had a single in the fourth inning, and relief pitcher Deuntre Dunklin ripped a single up the middle to lead off the bottom of the seventh. 

Blue Mountain pushed across three runs in each the first and second innings, before breaking the game open with a 12-run top of the third. The Tigers held the Toppers to one run in the fourth after Tre'en Dorsett took over on the mound to pitch Stillman out of a jam. Dorsett did not allow a run in the fifth and Dunklin did not allow a run in the seventh. Five runs were scored off both pitchers in the top of the sixth. 

Steven Oates (2-2) was charged with the loss, allowing eight runs of seven walks and three hits through 2.1 innings. Hayes Brown, Josue Garcia and Jose Angles also took the mound for Stillman. 

Gavin Coles, Josh Smith and Austin Beech each had three hits and four RBI to lead BMCU. Reilly Tate drove in five runs with two walks and a double.

Jackson Siler (2-0) was the winning pitcher, allowig two hits through five scoreless innings. Jesse Millnger allowed two runs in relief before Drew Humble closed out the seventh. 

Stillman (8-3, 0-3 SSAC) will have the next week off from SSAC action, and will travel to Southeastern Baptist College on Tuesday, March 7 for a noon doubleheader.