COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Benedict College Tigers played their first two intercollegiate baseball games on their campus field, but the Claflin University Panthers spoiled the debut by sweeping the doubleheader on Saturday afternoon.

Claflin scored three runs in the sixth inning of the first game to take a 4-3 victory over the Tigers.  In the second game, Claflin broke a 3-3 tie with four runs in the fourth inning and held on for an 11-8 victory.

The two losses drop the Tigers to 20-15 overall and 10-10 in the SIAC. Claflin, the top team in the SIAC East Division, improved to 24-16 overall and 16-4 in the SIAC, clinching the East Division title.

The Tigers scored the first-ever run on the campus field as Michael Jordan walked, stole second and third, and came home on a groundout by Kevin Davis.

The Panthers tied the game in the top of the second, but the Tigers scored another run in the bottom to re-take the lead. Lamar Lewis singled and stole second. Robert Jones singled to bring home Lewis.

Claflin scored three runs in the sixth. Benedict pitcher walked Julio Iglesias with the bases loaded, and Cory Huck hit a double to left field to bring home two more runs.

Benedict added one run in the sixth to cut the lead, but left two men on base. Andre Collum singled, moved to second when Lashante Grimes was hit by a pitch, and scored from second on a single by Jones. The Tigers had two runners on base in the seventh inning and one out, but couldn't bring them home.

In the second game, Claflin's Julius McDougal hit a two-run homer in the first inning and a sacrifice fly in the third. Jordan scored a Benedict run in the first, and then the Tigers scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning to tie the game at 3-3. Jordan beat out a bunt to first, which scored Justin Smalls. Collum later scored on a throwing error by the Claflin catcher.

Claflin scored four runs in the fourth, all after two outs. Chauncey Davis hit a two-run double, and Jasper Brown scored two runs on a Benedict throwing error.

Claflin's Huck singled, stole second and came home on an error to give the Panthers an 8-3 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, Collum hit a two-run homer to left. Jordan followed with a walk, stole second and third, and raced home after tagging up on a foul pop-up to the first baseman. Jordan collided with Iglesias at the plate and was called out for malicious contact. Both dugouts cleared, and five players – three from Benedict and two from Claflin – were ejected, while Iglesias left the game with an injury.

Claflin came back with three runs in the sixth. Jasper Brown hit a two-run homer to left field.

The Tigers matched the Panthers with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Lewis hit a two-run single up the middle and Grimes hit a sacrifice fly to score Lewis for the final 11-8 score.

The two teams will face each other on Sunday at 1 p.m. in the final regular-season game for the Tigers. The game will be played at the campus field.