TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Stillman College hosted its first non-conference midweek games in two months on Tuesday, closing out its 2024 home slate with a sweep of Rust College, 8-4 and 18-2.
The wins move Stillman to 7-1 against fellow HBCUs from the Tigers' future Gulf Coast Athletic Conference and 8-3 overall in non-conference action.
Between games, Stillman honored its three seniors:
Tre'en Dorsett,
Cody Clark and
Kelvin Reese. The trio has combined for 256 games over the last four years. Reese and Dorsett have combined for more than 150 hits and 92 RBI in their four seasons together in the outfield.
GAME 1: STILLMAN 8, RUST 5
Mason Mergenthal pitched a seven-inning complete game in his first career start and 11th appearance for the Tigers. He struck out seven, and allowed four runs off six hits and three walks.
The Tigers gave Mergenthal run support early, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Dylan Speakman led off the inning with a single and scored on a
Samuel Fleming RBI single to left. After a
Troy Davis single,
Griff Minor added a two-run single up the middle.
Rust pieced together a pair of runs in the third and fourth innings to take a 4-3 lead, but Stillman tied it in the bottom of the fourth when
Kobe Lewis singled through the left side and stole second and third before scoring on a throwing error by the catcher.
Troy Easterling played hero in the bottom of the seventh, hitting a three-run home run to left field to give Stillman a 7-4 lead. The Tigers added one more run in the sixth inning on a
Troy Davis sac fly to score Speakman. Davis finished 3-for-3 in the game, while Speakman was 3-for-4. Both scored two runs.
GAME 2: STILLMAN 18, RUST 2
Stillman poured out 18 runs in the second game to complete the sweep. The frequent run support helped
Dylan Speakman move to 2-3 on the season on the mound, allowing two runs off four hits and one walk through four innings. He struck out five.
Senior relief pitcher
Cody Clark closed the final three innings, striking out six and not allowing a hit or run in his final outing at Tiger Field. The only base runner he allowed was a hit batter as he collected his first save of the season.
Fellow senior
Tre'en Dorsett hit 3-for-4, including two doubles, with two RBI and four runs scored to lead Stillman's offense in the second game.
Devin Kelly,
Griff Minor and
Josh Wilson each had two hits.
Wilson subbed into the game at designated hitter in the second inning for senior
Kelvin Reese, who was hit by a pitch in his final plate appearance in Tuscaloosa.
Rust took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but Stillman fought back with with three runs in the first inning and five in the second to lead 8-1. Stapleton hit a solo home run in the top of the third inning, but the run support continued with a five-run third inning. The Tigers added two more in the fourth and three in the fifth.
Samuel Fleming drove in three runs, while Minor, Wilson and Dorsett each had two RBI
NEXT: Stillman (13-25) will continue its non-conference slate against Gulf Coast Athletic Conference foes this Saturday when it travels to Talladega College for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
