Midnight upset has Golden Tigers advancing in SIAC Championships
OZARK, Ala. (goldentigersports.com) — As the clock struck midnight at historic Eagle Stadium in Ozark, the Tuskegee University Golden Tigers were on the verge of pulling off an upset in the opening round of the SIAC Baseball Championships as they upended the top seed from the East Division – Albany State University 7-5 to advance in the winners bracket.
Tuskegee (12-27), who earned the final spot in the tournament on the last day of the regular season, used a four-run sixth inning to pull away from Albany State for the win.
The teams were tied headed to the top of the sixth inning until Evan Kearse scored on an Albany State balk to give Tuskegee a 4-3 lead. The lead extended to 6-3 when Jalen Luter knocked in Clinton Crews and Elgin Woodside with a two-run double. The final run scored when Luter scored on an error by Albany State to push the lead to 7-3.
The Golden Rams added a pair of runs in the eighth inning to trim the deficit to just two, until Tuskegee was able to close the door in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Ricky Green and Kearse led Tuskegee, each picking up a pair of hits. Green finished 2-for-5 with a triple and RBI, while Kearse was 2-for-5 with a pair of runs scored. Four other players each picked up a hit in the victory.
Trey Nelson (4-4) ended a personal two-game losing streak by going seven innings and allowing four runs (only one earned) off of just one hit and striking out five. Joseph Mauldin came on to pick up his first save of the season for Tuskegee.
The Golden Tigers advance to play Claflin, who upended Miles in the opening round of the tournament later Friday evening.
