NORTHPORT, Ala. – The Stillman College baseball team dropped its winners' bracket contest against the Huston-Tillotson University Rams, 13-3. Still, it bounced back to defeat the Dillard University Bleu Devils to avoid elimination on an eventful second day of the Hope Credit Union HBCU Athletic Conference Baseball Championships on Sunday at River Run Park.
Game 1 — Huston-Tillotson 13, Stillman 3
Stillman struck first and held an early lead before Huston-Tillotson used late innings to pull away.
The Tigers opened the scoring in the second when
Daniel Salter drove in
Jonathan Phillips with an RBI single. Stillman added on in the third as Phillips delivered a two-run single to score
Tory Huddleston and
Mekha Hicks, building a 3-0 advantage.
HTU began chipping away in the fourth with a two-run single, then tied the game in the fifth on an RBI double. The game turned in the seventh when the Rams broke through with a four-run inning, taking advantage of defensive miscues and timely hitting to grab a 7-3 lead.
The visitors added to the margin in the eighth, highlighted by a solo home run, a sacrifice fly, and a three-run homer to extend the lead to 13-3.
Phillips led Stillman offensively with two hits and two RBIs, while Salter added an RBI and
Gavin Rehorn contributed two hits.
On the mound,
John Roland worked into the seventh inning, allowing just two earned runs despite the deficit.
Deuntre Dunklin and
Tristen Henry followed in relief.
Game 2 — Stillman 11, Dillard 6
Stillman responded in a big way, erupting for a seven-run third inning and holding off a late push to secure the win.
After a scoreless start, the Tigers broke through in the third.
Davion Wilkins scored to open the inning before
Robert Gage drove in two runs with a single.
Tory Huddleston Jr. followed with an RBI double, and Roland delivered a two-run triple. Wilkins capped the frame with an RBI single, giving Stillman a 7-0 lead.
Stillman added another run in the fourth on a sacrifice fly from Hicks to extend the lead to 8-0.
Dillard answered in the fifth with two runs, but Stillman responded immediately. Salter tripled to drive in a run, and
Gavin Rehorn added an RBI single to push the lead to 10-2.
The Tigers added another run in the sixth when Huddleston delivered his second RBI double of the game, scoring Hicks to make it 11-4.
Dillard mounted a late push with two runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh, capitalizing on a passed ball and a wild pitch, but Stillman's pitching held firm down the stretch.
Huddleston led the offense with two doubles and two RBIs, while Gage and Roland each drove in two runs. Wilkins added two hits and an RBI, and Sincere Ford paced the lineup with three hits and two runs scored.
On the mound,
Caleb Vallejo earned the win, allowing four runs over six innings.
Emile Butler closed the game, limiting damage and securing the victory.
Up Next:
The Tigers will face Wilberforce University tomorrow at 2 p.m. in an elimination game. Wilberforce enters after grabbing a 14-3 win over Voorhees to avoid elimination.
