SAVANNAH, GA | The Morehouse Maroon Tigers kept their postseason dreams alive with a thrilling 11-6 victory over the Savannah State Tigers on Friday afternoon. With the win, Morehouse remains in contention for the eighth and final spot in the upcoming SIAC Tournament. 

Morehouse struggled early at the plate and trailed 5-0 after five innings. Despite getting a few runners on base through walks and a hit-by-pitch, the Maroon Tigers could not break through against the Savannah State starter. Defensively, Vernon Clay fought to minimize damage after a tough first inning where Savannah State plated five runs, but he settled down and threw scoreless frames from the second through fifth innings to keep Morehouse within striking distance.

Morehouse ignited their offense in the sixth inning, mounting a huge rally to seize the momentum. Elijah James sparked the charge with a two-run double that cut the deficit. Following that, Robert Robinson and Zachary Kelly each delivered RBI hits to continue the scoring. Myles Tucker added two RBIs with a sacrifice fly, and Satchel Hamilton chipped in with a bases-loaded RBI to cap the six-run outburst, vaulting Morehouse ahead 6-5.

The Maroon Tigers poured it on in the seventh inning, sending 10 men to the plate. Raymond Jenkins led off with a double and would eventually score on an RBI by Elijah James. Vernon Clay helped his own cause with an RBI single. Savannah State's defense faltered with a key error that allowed additional runs to score. A wild pitch and another RBI groundout helped Morehouse tack on more runs, extending their lead to 11-5.

Savannah State tried to rally, pushing across a single run to trim the Morehouse lead to 11-6. However, Brian Urquhart entered the game and shut down any further damage with a pair of flyouts.

Urquhart kept Savannah State scoreless in the final two innings. Morehouse's defense stayed steady behind him, and Urquhart induced routine fly balls to lock up the victory. The Maroon Tigers did not score again but protected their five-run cushion to secure the much-needed win.

Statistical Leaders

Offensively, Elijah James paced the Maroon Tigers, going 3-for-5 with three RBIs, including a crucial double in the sixth inning rally. Robert Robinson contributed a 1-for-3 day with two runs scored, one RBI, and two walks. Raymond Jenkins added a hit, two runs scored, and a pair of stolen bases, applying pressure on the base paths throughout the game. Zachery Kelly also chipped in with a hit, two runs scored, an RBI, and two walks.

On the mound, Vernon Clay (7.0 innings pitched) battled through early trouble, allowing six earned runs on 11 hits but settled down to keep Savannah State off the scoreboard in key middle innings. Reliever Brian Urquhart was sharp down the stretch, tossing two scoreless innings to close out the game and earn the save. Urquhart scattered two hits and three walks while striking out one across his two frames of work.

What's Next for Morehouse

With the first game of the series secured, the Morehouse Maroon Tigers will look to keep their postseason hopes alive when they face Savannah State again on Saturday in a doubleheader. A win in Game Two is crucial, as Morehouse must complete the series sweep to remain in contention for the final SIAC Tournament berth. In addition to sweeping Savannah State, the Maroon Tigers will need a combination of losses by Lane, Clark-Atlanta, and Tuskegee to clinch the coveted eighth seed. Morehouse will lean on their surging offense and a resilient pitching staff as they fight to extend their season and earn a spot in the conference tournament. For up-to-date athletic information on the Maroon Tigers, follow them on social media or online at www.morehouseathletics.com.