Stillman College outfielder Bryant Rhooms drives a ball against Rust College on Feb. 14. Rhooms hit a three-run home run at Clark Atlanta on Feb. 21 for his second home run of the season. (Photo by David Miller)
Stillman College scored in eight of nine innings Tuesday to rout Clark Atlanta University, 22-8, at Bill Evans Field. It is Stillman’s largest run total against a former Southern Intercollegiate Athletics (SIAC) team since a 22-4 win over Morehouse College in 2016.The win moves Stillman to 8-0 on the season, extending the longest active win streak among all HBCU programs. The Tigers were also highlighted Monday as a Week 1 #HotStreak by College Baseball Hub, presented by Netting Pros. Only six teams across NAIA and NAIA D1-D3 have a better start to the season so far.Atlanta native Bilal Whittle hit a leadoff solo home run Tuesday to start the game in his home state. It was Stillman’s first of two home runs in the game by Atlanta area products and the Tigers’ fifth of the season.Stillman added a four-spot in the top of the second, sparked by RBI doubles from TJ Davis and Kelvin Reese. Geoff Grier also drove in a run in the second, starting a 3-for-6, 2-RBI day at the plate.The Tigers worked the bases loaded and walked in a run in the third before scoring four more in the fourth inning, including two on RBI walks. Davis doubled in a run, and another scored on a balk to give Stillman a 10-2 lead.Bryant Rhooms, a junior from Marietta, hit a 3-run shot in the fifth inning, as Stillman grew its lead 15-2. It was Rhoom’s second shot of the year, having hit a grand slam against Tuskegee University on Feb. 10. The Tigers tacked on two in the sixth, one in the eighth and four more in the ninth, while Clark scored three in the fifth and two in the ninth.Davis and Reese each hit 2-for-3 in the game, while Ray Vaughn and Rhooms each had four RBI.Griff Minor (1-0) recorded the win in relief, allowing two runs off four hits and one walk through 4 1/3 innings. He struck out six. Collins worked 4 2/3 as the starter, allowing six total runs, only three earned, off seven hits and two walks. He struck out eight and was 1/3 inning shy of earning the win. Stillman (8-0) will take the rest of the week off and continue its non-conference HBCU slate Feb. 28 when the Tigers travel to NCAA Division I foe Alabama A&M in Huntsville, Alabama.