After dropping the first game of their season-opening doubleheader, the Golden Tigers (1-1, 0-0 SIAC) came up with a win to close out the weekend against Rust to split the home series held at Washington Field.
Rust 8, Tuskegee 5
The first game on Saturday was a heartbreaker for Tuskegee as they lost the lead late in an 8-5 defeat. The game was tied at five with Rust batting in the top of the sixth when a wild pitch allowed a run across the plate to help secure the victory. Tuskegee Golden Tigers lost despite out-hitting Rust 13 to ten.
The Bearcats took the first lead in the second inning when Malik Berrien doubled to drive in the opening score of the game. Later in the game, Rust knotted the game up at five in the top of the fifth inning, when Berrien doubled on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring two runs.
Xavier Campbell was the winning pitcher for Rust, going three innings, allowing zero runs on two hits, striking out one and walking zero. Jackson Bryant threw one-third of an inning in relief out of the bullpen.
Cody Willis (Montgomery, Ala.) took the loss for Tuskegee Golden Tigers. Willis allowed one hit and one run over one-third of an inning, walking one.
Jaylen Hill started the game for Tuskegee, lasting four innings and allowing five hits and three runs with one strike out. Meanwhile, Brent Jackson started the game for Rust, throwing three and two-thirds innings, allowing five runs on ten hits, striking out three.
Out of the 13 hits for Tuskegee, Cyree Broughton (Stockbridge, Ga.), Torian Bunkley (Riverdale, Ga.), Julian Grier (Atlanta, Ga.), and Kyle Douglas (Atlanta, Ga.) each managed multiple hits on the day, with Broughton leading with three in four at bats.
The Bearcats racked up ten hits in the game. Tallington and Berrien collected multiple hits for Rust, with Tallington going 3-for-5 at the plate to lead in hits.
Tuskegee 5, Rust 2
Game two was the opposite, with the Golden Tigers stealing the lead late in the game in a 5-2 victory to conclude the doubleheader. The game was tied at two with Tuskegee at the plate in the bottom of the fifth when Harrison Barnes (Cincinnati, Ohio) drew a walk to take the final lead.
Rust fired up the offense in the first inning, scoring two runs on a stolen base.
Broughton led the Tuskegee Golden Tigers to victory on the pitcher’s mound. The righty allowed three hits and one run over five and two-thirds innings, striking out five.
Brytan Sampson took the loss for the Bearcats, going four innings, allowing two runs on two hits and striking out five.
Barnes led Tuskegee Golden Tigers with two hits in two at bats in game two.