TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Stillman College baseball team rallied in the middle innings and collected 10 hits, but fell to the Talladega College Tornadoes 11-5 in HBCU Athletic Conference action on Thursday at Tiger Field.
Stillman (7-8, 3-1 HBCUAC) scored in three different innings and mounted late pressure, but Talladega (4-12, 1-0 HBCUAC) capitalized on early opportunities to build a lead that proved too large to overcome.
The Tigers finished with 10 hits, matching Talladega's output offensively, but defensive miscues and early runs allowed the visitors to maintain control.
The Tornadoes jumped ahead early with two runs in the first inning and added two more in the third before pushing the lead to 7-0 with a three-run fourth.
Stillman began its comeback in the fifth inning.
Cameron Sipp reached on a walk and moved into scoring position before
Emile Butler lined an RBI single up the middle to bring Sipp home for the Tigers' first run. Moments later,
Collin DuBose, running for
Daniel Salter, advanced to second before
Gavin Rehorn singled to left-center, scoring Butler and trimming the deficit to 7-2.
The Tigers added another run in the sixth.
John Roland doubled to left field and later crossed the plate when Butler lifted a sacrifice fly to right, cutting the margin to 7-3.
Talladega answered with three runs in the seventh and another in the ninth, but Stillman continued to fight late.
In the eighth inning,
Robert Gage singled to start the rally and advanced to third on an error.
John Roland followed with a single and later scored when Butler reached on a Talladega error. The same play also allowed Gage to cross the plate, bringing Stillman within 10-5.
Stillman threatened again in the ninth as
Gavin Rehorn singled to open the frame, but the Tigers were unable to extend the rally.
Butler drove in a team-high four RBIs while finishing 1 for 3 at the plate. Roland added two hits and scored twice, while Rehorn recorded two hits and an RBI. Sipp also collected two hits for the Tigers.
Bobby Woodard took the loss after allowing seven runs, four earned, over 3.2 innings.
Zack Munger followed with 3.1innings of relief, and
Jonathan Phillips pitched the final two frames.
Up Next:
Stillman and Talladega will match up tomorrow at noon for the start of an HBCUAC doubleheader.