Talladega College cruised to a commanding 20-7 victory against No. 5 seed Blue Mountain Christian University on Tuesday after its game was suspended by rain on Monday in the NAIA Opening Round Shreveport Bracket hosted by LSU Shreveport at BPCC Baseball Field Shreveport (La.)
The Tornadoes (39-16) gave up the game’s first four runs to Blue Mountain which jumped out to a 4-0 advantage in the top of the first inning. Talladega responded in the bottom of the first scoring a run, but took a 6-1 lead in the bottom of the second inning plating five runs for a 6-4 lead.
Talladega would add more runs scoring two in the fourth inning, another in the fifth, and two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning for an 11-7 advantage. Then the rain shut the game down. As play resumed Tuesday morning, Talladega added 6 runs in the bottom of the seventh and three runs in the eighth for the National Tournament Opening First Round win.
For Talladega, Victor Rivera, Darlin Fernandez (2), Miguel Oropeza (3), Nomar Garcias (5), Armando Jackson (3), Jeriel Lamboy, Jesuette Dominguez (2), Eddie Velazquez, Jahir Cruz, each recorded runs batted in.
Miguel Oropeza, HBCU Baseball small school Black College Nines All-Elites Player of the Year was 3-for-3 with 4 runs scored.
Starting pitcher Jose Franco (1-0) threw 4.0 innings, allowed 7 hits and 5 runs, Ramses Ortega in relief gave up 4 hits, 2 runs and 1 earned run pitching 3.0 innings. Jordan New, in 2.0 innings, gave up 2 hits and no runs in relief.
Talladega will face No. 1 seed LSU-Shreveport (La.) in a winner’s bracket contest on Tuesday, May 14. The game is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. (CDT).