TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Stillman College baseball team fell behind early and couldn't rally in a 13-1 loss to the Talladega College Tornadoes on Friday afternoon to open the HBCU Athletic Conference series.
Talladega struck first in the opening inning with a two-run single to take an early lead before Stillman answered in the second.
Tory Huddleston reached and came around to score when
Jonathan Phillips reached on a fielding error, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
The Tornadoes broke the game open in the third with a nine-run inning fueled by timely hitting and defensive miscues. Multiple RBI singles and extra-base hits pushed the lead to 11-1, with runs coming on base hits, a wild pitch, and an error as Stillman struggled to slow the momentum.
Talladega added another run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 13-1.
Stillman was limited offensively despite collecting five hits.
Gavin Rehorn led the Tigers with two hits, while Huddleston scored the team's lone run. Stillman also attempted to create pressure on the bases, highlighted by a stolen base from
Robert Gage, but was unable to string together sustained offense.
On the mound,
Zack Munger took the loss after allowing 10 runs in 2.2 innings.
Caleb Vallejo and
Tristen Henry provided relief, combining to limit further damage over the final frames.
Before today's full game, the teams finished a game paused on April 17 due to inclement weather. The game was resumed in the bottom of the seventh inning on the road at Talladega. Phillips singled to start the inning, followed by singles from
Davion Wilkins and Rehorn to load the bases. With one out,
Mekha Hicks singled to center field to drive in pinch runner Sincere Ford and give Stillman the 10-9 win.
Up Next:
The Tigers and Tornadoes meet tomorrow for a doubleheader with postseason implications on the line.
