MOBILE, AL | The Morehouse Maroon Tigers came up short in a hard-fought battle on Friday afternoon, losing 11-5 to the SIAC-leading Spring Hill Badgers at Sims-Galle Field in Mobile, Alabama. Despite flashes of offensive production and grit on the mound, the Tigers couldn't overcome Spring Hill's consistent scoring attack.
The game began as a pitcher's duel, with both teams going scoreless in the first inning. Jamie Lawrence III set the tone early for Morehouse on the mound, retiring the Spring Hill side in order.
In the top of the second, Morehouse struck first. Darrien Chapman led off with a double, driving the ball into the gap and sparking the Tigers' offense. After a sacrifice bunt moved him to third, Lee Hodges grounded out to the right side, allowing Chapman to score and put the Maroon Tigers on the board with a 1-0 lead.
Spring Hill responded immediately in the bottom of the second, capitalizing on two walks and an error to push across two runs. The Badgers followed with a sacrifice fly and a timely double, taking a 2-1 lead.
In the third inning, Spring Hill extended their lead to 3-1 on a sacrifice fly after loading the bases via a single and two walks. Morehouse was held in check by Spring Hill's starter, who kept the Tigers from scoring through the middle innings.
The sixth inning saw the Tigers chip away at the deficit. Nicholas Pittman drew a walk and stole second, putting himself in scoring position. James Thorpe came through with a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Pittman and bringing Morehouse within one run at 3-2.
However, Spring Hill once again answered back in the bottom of the sixth, plating two more runs on a hit-by-pitch, single, and another sacrifice fly. That pushed their lead to 5-2.
The seventh inning was the most productive frame for Morehouse. Darrien Chapman reached on an error, and Pittman walked again. Both advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Victor Clay. Lee Hodges grounded out but drove in his second run of the game, and Vernon Clay followed with a successful squeeze bunt, scoring Pittman to bring the score to 5-4.
In the bottom of the seventh, Spring Hill widened the gap again with three runs on back-to-back singles and a double, putting the Badgers ahead 8-4.
Morehouse made one final push in the eighth. Elijah Pinckney was hit by a pitch and advanced on a walk to Robert Robinson. Tj Whiteman then came through with a single, driving in Pinckney to trim the lead to 8-5.
Unfortunately for the Tigers, the bottom of the eighth was another tough inning. Spring Hill capitalized on a triple, a double, and a hit-by-pitch to score three more times, bringing the final score to 11-5.
Morehouse was unable to mount a comeback in the ninth, going down quietly to close out the contest.
Key Pitchers for Morehouse:
- Jamie Lawrence III: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R (1 ER), 4 BB
- Quenton Mitchell Jr.: 2.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 1 SO
- Brian Urquhart: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 1 SO
- Dejorryn Pettis: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER)
Statistical Leaders for Morehouse:
Spring Hill and Morehouse will face off tomorrow in a doubleheader. For up-to-date athletic information on the Maroon Tigers, follow them on social media or online at
www.morehouseathletics.com.
