TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Stillman College fell two runs short in a 13-11 high-scoring Game 3 loss to Middle Georgia State University on Saturday. It was the first loss this season when the Tigers scored 10 runs, moving to 12-1 in double-digit scoring games.
The Tigers jumped out to a 4-0 lead after its pregame ceremony honoring five seniors:
Varrick Lawrence,
Jose Angles,
Jared Hines,
Steven Oates and
Bilal Whittle.
Devin Kelly doubled to start the Tigers' first inning.
Geoff Grier and
Sieas Elliott each drove in a run before
Kobe Lewis doubled in two runs.
Middle Georgia put up a similar inning in the top of the third to take a 5-4 lead. In the bottom of the third, Elliott singled to left. His courtesy runner,
Thomas Stovall, stole second and later home to tie the game, 5-5.
In the fifth inning, the Tigers and Knights combined for 10 runs, with Middle Georgia winning the inning, 6-4, to take an 11-9 lead. Lewis,
Justin Cummings, Whittle and Kelly each drove in runs for the Tigers.
Elliott walked in the bottom of the sixth and Stovall later scored on a wild pitch to pull the Tigers within a run, 11-10.
A pair of diving plays by shortstop
Geoff Grier helped keep the Knights from strengthening its lead in the seventh and eighth innings.
Middle Georgia scored one run in the top of the eighth, but Stillman struck back with a run in the bottom half.
Samuel Fleming drew a walk and advanced to third on a pair of wild pitches before stealing home on a delayed steal.
The Tigers trailed 12-11 entering the ninth inning. Two runners reached to start the top of the ninth off Angles.
Cody Clark gave up a sac fly to push across another Knights' run, 13-11.
Whittle hit 3-for-4 in his final home conference series, while Elliott, Fleming and Lewis were each 2-for-2 with a pair of walks. Lewis had three RBI and Elliot had one. Fleming and Stovall each scored three runs.
Kelly also had two hits, while
Tre'en Dorsett and Cummings each had one.
Griff Minor (3-6) recorded the loss, allowing nine runs off nine hits. He had three strikeouts through four innings.
Stillman (14-26, 1-20 SSAC) will host its final home games on Tuesday, April 25 with a 1 p.m. doubleheader against Southeastern Baptist College at Tiger Field.
