TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Stillman College baseball team mounted late rallies in both games with the Talladega College Tornadoes on Thursday at Tiger Field, falling 9-6 in the opener before mounting a comeback to reach 9-9 before the game was suspended.
Game 1 — Talladega 9, Stillman 6
Talladega struck first with a two-run home run in the opening inning, but Stillman answered in the second.
After
Jonathan Phillips walked to begin the inning,
Gavin Rehorn singled and advanced on an outfield error, allowing Phillips to score Stillman's first run.
Talladega extended its lead with two runs in the third and added another in the fourth, eventually pushing the advantage to 9-1 after scoring twice in the fifth and sixth innings.
Stillman began its comeback in the sixth inning. Phillips singled and scored when
Emile Butler ripped a double down the left-field line. Moments later, Butler scored on Rehorn's RBI single up the middle to cut the deficit to 9-3.
The Tigers mounted another rally in the seventh.
Mekha Hicks drew a walk before
Robert Gage was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a balk.
Matthew Rivers followed with an RBI double down the left-field line to score Gage.
Cameron Sipp then singled to move Rivers to third before Phillips delivered a triple down the left-field line that brought home Sipp and Rivers, trimming the final margin to 9-6.
Stillman finished with nine hits, including two from Phillips, Rehorn, and Sipp. Rivers and Butler each recorded doubles, while Phillips added the key two-RBI triple during the late rally.
John Roland started and worked 5.2 innings, allowing nine runs, six earned, on nine hits with four walks and two strikeouts.
Xavier Reyna closed the game with 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing no hits and striking out one to keep Talladega off the scoreboard late.
Game 2 — Stillman 9, Talladega 9 - Suspended Due to Rain - Mid 7th
Stillman exploded early in the second game, scoring six runs in the opening inning.
Mekha Hicks opened the frame with a walk and moved into scoring position when
Matthew Rivers singled. After
Robert Gage advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt,
John Roland delivered a two-run single to bring home Rivers and Hicks.
The Tigers continued the surge when
Tory Huddleston singled before
Jonathan Phillips doubled to left-center, scoring Huddleston and Roland. Moments later,
Davion Wilkins tripled to left-center to bring home Phillips, and Wilkins scored on Rehorn's sacrifice fly to give Stillman a 6-1 lead after one inning.
Talladega chipped away with two runs in the second and erupted for five runs in the fourth to briefly take the lead.
Stillman responded in the bottom of the fourth. Hicks singled and later scored when
Robert Gage reached on a fielder's choice following a throwing error. With runners on base, Huddleston delivered a two-run single that brought home Gage and
Matthew Rivers, putting Stillman back in front 9-8.
Talladega tied the game in the fifth with a sacrifice fly, and the contest remained even the rest of the way until it was suspended due to rain.
Caleb Vallejo started and worked 3.1 innings, allowing eight runs, six earned, while striking out none.
Xavier Reyna followed with 1.1 innings, allowing one run while working through traffic on the bases.
Zack Munger closed the game with 2.1 strong innings, allowing just one hit and striking out two to keep the game tied down the stretch.
The game is currently scheduled to be resumed on April 18 in Talladega, Alabama, when the Tornadoes host the Tigers.
Up Next:
Stillman College steps up to play NCAA Division II competition when the Tigers travel to Atlanta, Georgia, to face Morehouse College on Tuesday, starting at noon locally.
