COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Tuskegee Golden Tigers scored four runs in the top of the fourth inning and went on to defeat the Benedict College Tigers 9-8 in the SIAC Baseball Tournament on Sunday.
The game was played at Polo Road Park, as tournament officials were trying to get the tournament back on schedule after Saturday's games were washed out.
The loss eliminated Benedict from the tournament. The Tigers are now 23-17.
Tuskegee advances to face Miles at 6 p.m. at Capital City Stadium in another elimination contest.
Benedict had 10 hits to Tuskegee's six hits, but Benedict issued 12 walks on the day, including a bases-loaded walk to score a run in the fourth inning. A throwing error in the fourth also allowed a Tuskegee run to score.
After Tuskegee scored a run in the top of the first inning, Benedict came back with three runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 3-1 lead.
Andre Collum hit a two-run single to right field.
Mitchell Dixon later hit a single to left field to score
Shomarii Thomas.
Tuskegee tied the game in the third inning as two batters walked and Kadrian Russ hit a two-run single to left field.
Christopher Lail came in relief to start the fourth inning. A hit batsman and back-to-back two-out singles and a throwing error scored three Tuskegee runs.
Omar Compton came in relief and issued a bases-loaded walk to give Tuskegee a 7-3 lead.
Benedict cut the lead with two runs in the fourth inning. Three straight singles to lead off the inning resulted in one run scoring with
Gavin Murphy collecting the RBI, and a sacrifice bunt by
Andrew McCoy brought home another run.
Tuskegee added a run in the fifth inning when the runner on first stole second. The Tigers got the runner out going to second, but the runner from third beat the throw from second and scored, giving Tuskegee an 8-5 lead.
David White Jr. hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning to cut the lead to 8-7.
A double steal in the eighth inning scored another run for Tuskegee to make it 9-7. An error on a failed pickoff attempt and a walk put runners on first and third, and the Golden Tigers pulled off the double steal.
Benedict got a run back in the bottom of the eighth. McCoy singled and advanced to third on an error in the outfield and
Kevin Davis hit a sacrifice fly to bring him home.
Tuskegee's Danny Barnes picked up the save by pitching a three-up, three-down ninth inning.
