MONTGOMERY, AL | The Morehouse Maroon Tigers mounted a late rally but came up just short in a 2-1 loss to Miles College in a rain-shortened finale at the Minority Prospects HBCU Final 4 Baseball Showcase at Riverwalk Stadium.
With inclement weather forecasted for Saturday, the game was moved up to Friday night. Despite the scheduling change, only five innings were completed before rain forced officials to call the game early with Miles leading 2-1.
Miles took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning after two hit batters and a clutch two-out, two-run triple by Gavin Millians — the only extra-base hit of the game. Morehouse responded in the top of the fourth. TJ Whiteman reached on an error and advanced around the bases thanks to a walk, a wild pitch, and an RBI groundout by Vernon Clay, trimming the deficit to 2-1.
In the top of the fifth, Morehouse staged a determined comeback attempt. Mariano McClean walked to lead off the inning and was pinch ran for by Princeton Hawks II. Myles Gordon was hit by a pitch, putting two runner on with no outs. After a strikeout, Hawks would then advance to third on a wild pitch. Whiteman would ground out to 3rd base, not allowing Hawks to score. Another strikeout would ended the threat as rain began falling more steadily.
On the mound, Julian Goodman took the loss despite not surrendering a hit in two innings of work. Relievers Noah Grayson and Cameron Solomon kept Miles in check over the final two innings. Morehouse pitchers allowed just two hits total.
Offensively, Elijah Pinckney had the lone hit for Morehouse and stole a base, while Whiteman and Vernon Clay helped generate the team's only run with heads-up base running and situational hitting.
The loss dropped Morehouse to 19-27 overall, concluding their run in the inaugural MBP HBCU Final 4. Despite the result, the Maroon Tigers showed grit and competitiveness, especially in their late push before the weather closed the curtain on the night. For up-to-date athletic information on the Maroon Tigers, follow them on social media or online at www.morehouseathletics.com.
