Both large and small HBCU school delivered an exciting weekend full of baseball action from around the country. Black College Nines (BCN) notes some of the conference action from this past weekend.
MEAC
Coppin State split a doubleheader in its season opening series at North Carolina A&T Sunday afternoon. The Eagles suffered a hard fought 11-inning heartbreaker, 3-2 in the opener, then defeated NC A&T, 9-5 in the nightcap. In game one, Coppin starter Quinn Gleed allowing just one earned run in 7.2 inningg and in one stretch, retired 12 straight Aggies in a no-decision. In game two, Coppin scored a run in the second and two more in the third then exploded with six runs on six hits and an error in the top of the sixth to extend its lead to 9-2 in the win for the Eagles.
SWAC
Grambling State’s Richard Ortiz and Trevin Bolden each drove in a pair of runs as the Tigers’ baseball team held off a late rally by Alcorn State to pick up its first victory of the season. The 6-5 win on Sunday concluded play in the Andre Dawson Classic at Wesley Barrow Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana.
SIAC
The Clark Atlanta baseball program opened up its home season by sweeping a doubleheader against Kentucky State University Saturday at Bill Evans Field. In the first game, Clark Atlanta’s Ceontae Brandon went 2-for-3 and drove in three runs to lead the Panthers to a 12-4 victory over KSU. In the second game, Jordan Johnson scattered four hits in eight innings of work while striking out eight as CAU defeated Kentucky State 2-1.
DII Independent
Saint Augustine’s College, down in a 3-0 deficit, rallied to sweep Benedict College 8-6 and 4-3 in a baseball doubleheader Sunday. In game one, Marquis Johnson pitched a four-hitter with eight strikeouts, no walks and two earned runs in six innings. In game two, the Falcons overcame a 3-0 deficit exploded for four runs in the fourth inning and held on to win 4-3.
Winston-Salem State, in an extra-inning affair, rallied on a walk-off triple from junior designated hitter Rashad Stewart as the Rams won 3-2 in game one of a doubleheader. In game two, WSSU scored in three of the first four innings of the game. Outfielder Randy Norris got things started when he hit a leadoff solo home run on the second pitch of the game helping the Rams to a 7-1 victory.
GCAC
Tougaloo avoided a three-game sweep from Blue Mountain College winning a 5-4 decision Sunday. Tougaloo jumped out to a 5-0 lead after two innings. The Toppers made a comeback scoring four runs in the third inning. Neither team would cross the plate again, giving Tugaloo’s Lige Mims the pitching win in relief.
Edward Waters defeated nonconference foe Morehouse 4-0 to claim the series 2-1. The Tigers plated one run in the first inning, scored another in the third and one in the fourth. EWC starting pitcher Jonathan Radomski threw eight shutout innings allowing four hits and Darius Blasingane picked up the save.