ATLANTA, GA |  The 2024–25 season for the Morehouse Maroon Tigers baseball program was a tale of growth, grit, and perseverance. Competing with heart in the face of challenges, the Tigers turned heads with explosive offense, individual accolades, and a firm commitment to excellence both on the field and in the classroom. Under head coach Antonio Grissom, Morehouse posted a 19-27 record and remained in the SIAC Tournament hunt until the final day of the regular season.

Season Highlights: Competitive Fire from Start to Finish

The Maroon Tigers recorded impressive wins against conference and non-conference opponents alike. Notable highlights included:

• Series Sweep of Kentucky State: Dominant offensive display across all three games, capped by a 16-4 mercy-rule victory.
• Signature Win Over UAH: Robert Robinson drove in five runs in a thrilling 11-10 victory against South Region power Alabama-Huntsville.
• Ron Washington Classic Success: Two victories against Rust and Voorhees to open the season in strong fashion.
• Clark Atlanta Rout: A statement 17-7 win in the season finale featured 16 hits, 13 stolen bases, and a home run from senior TJ Whiteman.
• Walk-Off Drama vs. Savannah State: A four-run eighth-inning comeback capped by Saivion Mohammed's walk-off single kept tournament hopes alive late in the season.
• MBP HBCU Final 4 Participation: Morehouse competed at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery, Alabama, narrowly falling to national programs Tuskegee and Miles in tightly contested showdowns.

Team Statistical Leaders

Batting:

• Batting Average: Elijah Pinckney (.407)
• Hits: Raymond Jenkins (54)
• Runs Scored: Elijah Pinckney (58)
• Home Runs: James Thorpe (9)
• RBI: Robert Robinson (44)
• Stolen Bases: Elijah Pinckney (26-for-29)
• Walks: Elijah Pinckney (51)
• On-Base %: Elijah Pinckney (.599)
• Slugging %: James Thorpe (.629)
• OPS: Elijah Pinckney (1.217)

Pitching:

• ERA (min. 20 IP): Ian Makle (4.31)
• Wins: Julian Goodman & Noah Grayson (3 each)
• Innings Pitched: Julian Goodman (52.0 IP)
• Strikeouts: Noah Grayson (35)
• Opponent Batting Avg.: Brian Urquhart (.217)
• Pickoffs: Saivion Mohammed (5)

Fielding:

• Fielding Percentage (min. 50 chances): Elijah Pinckney (.982)
• Double Plays Turned: Team (36)

Elijah Pinckney: A Star on the Rise

Junior shortstop Elijah Pinckney solidified his status as one of the premier players in NCAA Division II and across HBCU baseball:

• .407 AVG | .599 OBP | .618 SLG | 1.217 OPS
• 51 walks (Top 10 NCAA DII), 26 stolen bases, .982 fielding %
• 2025 Black College Nines Small School Second Team honoree
• First-ever NCAA DII player selected for the HBCU Swingman Classic
• Selected for the MBP HBCU All-Star Game, where he played both middle infield spots and turned in a flawless defensive outing

Other Key Contributors

• Robert Robinson (OF): 50 hits, 44 RBI, and .331 average with clutch performances.
• Raymond Jenkins (2B): 54 hits, .346 average, and 18 stolen bases.
• James Thorpe (UTIL): 9 home runs and .353 average in 36 games.
• Vernon Clay (INF): .314 average and 16 stolen bases.
• TJ Whiteman (C): Provided stability behind the plate and a key late-season power surge.
• Julian Goodman and Noah Grayson: Combined for over 90 innings pitched and anchored the rotation.

Academic Excellence: A Proud Tradition

Morehouse Baseball once again upheld the institution's proud standard of academic success. The team helped Morehouse earn 46 total SIAC All-Academic honors, with 15 baseball student-athletes honored.

Notable Academic Honorees:

• Elijah Pinckney – 3.88 GPA (Journalism in Sports, Culture and Social Justice)
• Vernon Clay – 3.94 GPA (Biology)
• Jeremiah Coley, Nicholas Pittman, Calvin Butts, Amir Faulkner, Keith Minor, and others—all maintained GPAs above 3.5

National Representation and Media Visibility

Morehouse made its presence felt at the2025 MBP HBCU All-Star Weekend:

• Elijah Pinckney represented the Maroon Tigers on the field.
• A.D. Drew, Morehouse's Athletic Marketing Manager, served as both play-by-play broadcaster and official scorer for the televised showcase.

Final Record & Outlook

Morehouse finished the season 19-27 overall, 12-18 in SIAC play, and 12-11 at home. Despite narrowly missing a postseason berth, the Tigers showed undeniable growth and tenacity. Their final contest, a 2-1 rain-shortened loss to Miles in the MBP Final 4, was a microcosm of their season—competitive, resilient, and poised for greater things ahead.

Conclusion

With a rising national profile, improved team GPA, and one of the top players in Black College baseball, the Morehouse Maroon Tigers are poised for continued growth. The 2024–25 season proved that Morehouse Baseball is not just building a team—but a legacy.

Stay connected with Maroon Tigers baseball at www.morehouseathletics.com.