TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Stillman Tigers (22-16, 14-6 HBCUAC) rallied from five runs down to claim the opener, then dominated from the first pitch in the nightcap, sweeping a seven-inning doubleheader against United States Sports University on Tuesday by scores of 9-8 and 17-8. The sweep pushed Stillman to 22-16 on the season.
Game 1: Stillman 9, USSU 8
The Tigers erased a five-run first-inning deficit and held on for a one-run victory in the opener, improving to 21-16.
USSU jumped out to a 5-0 lead before Stillman recorded an out, sending 10 batters to the plate in the top of the first. But the Tigers responded without panic, chipping away inning by inning.
Matthew Rivers got Stillman on the board with a solo home run to left field in the second. The Tigers then erupted for three runs in the third on back-to-back RBI singles from Sincere Ford and
Kane Shellhouse, followed by a run-scoring single up the middle by
Robert Gage, pulling within one at 5-4.
Ford's RBI single in the fourth tied the game, and the Tigers never looked back. Stillman broke it open with four runs in the sixth —
Davion Wilkins scored on an error, Ford doubled home another run, and Rivers delivered again with an RBI single to stretch the lead to 9-5.
USSU made it interesting in the seventh, scoring twice on wild pitches to pull within 9-8. But closer
Gavin Rehorn retired the final batter to slam the door and preserve the victory.
Starter
Deuntre Dunklin earned the win, pitching 6 1/3 innings, striking out four and allowing eight hits and six earned runs. Rehorn recorded his first save of the season.
Ford paced the Stillman offense, going 4-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Rivers was equally dominant, finishing 4-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. Gage added two hits and two RBI out of the No. 3 spot.
Game 2: Stillman 17, USSU 8
The Tigers needed just one inning to put the nightcap away, erupting for seven first-inning runs and never slowing down in a dominant 17-8 victory.
Stillman batted around and then some in the bottom of the first, sending 11 men to the plate against USSU starter Jaden Brown. A two-run single up the middle by
Emile Butler highlighted the inning, and a pair of USSU passed balls allowed additional runs to cross. Brown was chased after recording just one out.
The Eagles trimmed the deficit to 7-4 with a four-run second inning, but the Tigers answered with two in the bottom half and never allowed USSU to get closer. Stillman poured it on with four more runs in the fifth, keyed by a two-run single through the left side from Ford, who was again the offensive catalyst.
The Tigers added three more in the sixth on a run-scoring double by
Javian Rives and a pinch-hit RBI single by
Collin DuBose to push the final margin to nine.
Ford finished 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, giving him seven RBI on the day across both games. Rives reached base in all five plate appearances — drawing three walks and doubling — and scored four runs.
John Roland drove in three runs, and Rivers added an RBI double as part of a productive afternoon.
Tristen Henry earned the win on the mound for Stillman, striking out two and allowing seven runs on seven hits over four innings.
Stillman will now wait to see who they will face in the first round of the HBCUAC Baseball Tournament, starting Saturday, April 25th.
