TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Stillman College ended its 2023 home baseball schedule with a 5-4 walk-off win Tuesday, April 25, to salvage a split against Southeastern Baptist College at Tiger Field. The win followed a 10-4 loss in the first game and completed a 14-7 (.667) non-conference record. 

Tied 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh, Devin Kelly doubled down the right field line to start the inning. After a Geoff Grier walk, Kobe Lewis bunted into a fielder's choice back to SBC pitcher Matthew Thompson, but his throw to third base was wide right. Kelly was safe at third and then trotted home to an ice shower at home plate as teammates swarmed Lewis in the infield. 

It was the Tigers' ninth home victory of the season, matching the 2017 and 2018 teams for most home victories since joining the NAIA. Both of those seasons, Stillman was not a member of a conference and won 17 and 19 games, respectively.

Kelly hit 5-for-8 with three runs scored to lead Stillman from the plate in the final home doubleheader. Lewis had four hits and three RBI, not including the game-winning run.

 

While Southeastern Baptist got out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, Lewis and Sieas Elliott each singled in runs in the bottom of the first to give Stillman a 2-1 lead. SBC took a 4-1 lead in the top of the fifth, but Stillman fought back in the sixth. 

Elliott reached on an error to start the sixth inning. Samuel Fleming then beat out an infield single and stole second to put two in scoring position. He was 2-for-3 in the game. Troy Easterling pushed across one run (courtesy runner Oscar Taveras) before Tadre (TJ) Blackmon doubled down the left field line to tie the game, 4-4. 

Griff Minor allowed a single in the top of the seventh, but then got a fly out, ground out and caught stealing to take the Tigers to the bottom of the seventh with their top of the order poised to deliver the victory.

Minor (4-6) earned the win in relief, pitching 2.2 scoreless innings, allowing three hits and no walks. He struck out two. Mason Collins allowed four runs, three earned, off four hits and two walks through 4.1 innings in the start.

 

In the first game, Stillman fell into a 6-0 hole after allowing three runs in each of the first two innings. The Tigers attempted to chip away at the deficit, adding a run in the third inning on a Griff Minor RBI groundout and one in the fourth on a Lewis RBI single, but SBC countered with a run in the fourth, one in fifth and two in the sixth inning. Lewis singled in another run in the six and Minor added a second RBI with a sac fly in the bottom of the seventh. 

Lewis hit 3-for-3 in the first game, while Kelly was 2-for-4 and Tre'en Dorsett was 2-for-3 with two runs scored. 

Justin Cummings took over for starter Raul Polanco (2-3) in the second inning. He allowed four runs, only one earned, off six hits and two walks through 5.1 innings. 

 

NEXT: Stillman (15-27, 1-20 SSAC) is scheduled to close its Southern States Athletic Conference schedule later this week at Talladega College. Currently the games are scheduled for Friday and Saturday.