NORTHPORT, Ala. – The Stillman College baseball season concluded this afternoon at River Run Park after the Tigers dropped a 9-6 contest to the Wilberforce University Bulldogs in an elimination game in the Hope Credit Union HBCU Athletic Conference Baseball Championship.
Wilberforce struck first and applied steady pressure through the early innings, taking advantage of walks and defensive miscues to grab control of the game.
Stillman answered in the middle innings. In the fourth,
Daniel Salter put the Tigers on the board with an RBI single to score
Jonathan Phillips and cut into the deficit.
Stillman added to that momentum in the fifth.
Jonathan Phillips delivered a two-RBI single, bringing home
Tory Huddleston and
Mekha Hicks to trim the margin to one run and energize the Tigers' dugout.
Wilberforce responded by stretching the lead again behind timely hitting, including a three-RBI effort from Joe Mendy and multiple extra-base hits from Darius Woodson, who finished a perfect 4-for-4.
Stillman stayed within striking distance late.
John Roland drove in two runs, including a key RBI knock that plated two and kept the Tigers within reach.
Daniel Salter followed with a sacrifice fly for his second RBI of the game, and Phillips later added another sacrifice fly to bring home a run and make it a three-run contest.
Davion Wilkins contributed with two hits and scored twice, while
Kane Shellhouse led Stillman with three hits.
Robert Gage added two hits as the Tigers totaled 11 on the day.
Stillman used three pitchers, with
Gavin Rehorn taking the loss after allowing four runs (one earned) in three innings.
Caleb Vallejo followed with five innings of relief, and
John Roland closed out the final frame.
