ATLANTA, GA | Morehouse opened its SIAC home series against Savannah State with a 7-6 comeback win in Saturday's opener, but the Tigers answered with a 6-3 win later that day and a 10-2 victory on Sunday to claim the three-game set at Gresham Park. In the finale, the Maroon Tigers fought back to tie the game twice, but Savannah State broke it open late with two runs in the eighth and six more in the ninth.
Game 1 — Morehouse 7, Savannah State 6 (Sat)
Savannah State grabbed the first lead in the top of the first when Chandler Hicks drew a walk and Johan Sandoval came home on a wild pitch. Morehouse answered in the second, as Mariano McLean lined an RBI single up the middle to score Raymond Jenkins and tie the game at 1-1. Savannah State pushed back in front in the third with an RBI walk from Jason Ramos and a two-run single from Kijani Clarington to build a 4-1 edge. The Maroon Tigers answered in a big way in the fifth: TJ Whiteman launched a two-run homer to left that scored Elijah James, then Jenkins followed later in the inning with a solo shot to left-center to even the score at 4-4. Savannah State moved back in front 6-4 in the sixth on an RBI groundout by Myles Tucker and an RBI single from Ramos, but Morehouse flipped the game in the seventh. Nicholas Pittman drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home Robert Robinson Jr., then Vernon Clay reached on a fielder's choice that plated Jenkins while Whiteman also scored on a Savannah State error, giving Morehouse the final 7-6 margin.
Key Moments
- Whiteman's two-run homer and Jenkins' solo blast wiped out a three-run deficit and completely reset the opener for Morehouse.
- The Maroon Tigers made the decisive push in the seventh, scoring three runs while taking advantage of a Savannah State miscue in the infield.
- Andwele Pittman slammed the door out of the bullpen, throwing three hitless innings to earn the win and preserve the comeback.
- Even with Savannah State drawing 14 walks, Morehouse kept the visitors from delivering the knockout blow and stranded 13 Savannah State runners.
Team Comparison
- Hits: Morehouse 10 | Savannah State 6
- Errors: Morehouse 0 | Savannah State 2
- Left on base: Morehouse 8 | Savannah State 13
- Home runs: Morehouse 2 | Savannah State 0
- Walks drawn: Morehouse 9 | Savannah State 14
Morehouse Leaders
- Elijah Pinckney: 3-for-4, walk
- TJ Whiteman: 1-for-3, home run, 2 RBI, 2 runs scored
- Raymond Jenkins: 1-for-1, home run, RBI, 3 runs scored, 3 walks
- Elijah James: 2-for-3, run scored, stolen base
- Andwele Pittman: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 SO, win
Game 2 — Savannah State 6, Morehouse 3 (Sat)
The nightcap turned in the third inning, when Savannah State got a two-run homer from Noah Rodriguez and another two-run shot from Yan Cartaya to jump out to a 4-0 lead. Morehouse chipped away in the fourth behind Robert Robinson Jr., who homered to left-center, and Mariano McLean, who added an RBI single through the right side to score Jenkins and cut the deficit to 4-2. Savannah State answered immediately in the fifth, scoring twice on a Jason Ramos RBI walk and a Bryce Bause RBI double to make it 6-2. Morehouse got one run back in the bottom half when Alec Waller came around to score on Whiteman's RBI flyout, but that was as close as the Maroon Tigers would get in a 6-3 final.
Key Moments
- Savannah State's two homers in the third gave the visitors instant separation and forced Morehouse to play from behind the rest of the game.
- The Maroon Tigers responded well in the fourth and fifth, scoring in consecutive innings and collecting six hits over those two frames.
- Robinson's homer and double gave Morehouse a spark in the middle innings, while McLean and Whiteman each drove in runs to keep pressure on Savannah State.
- After Morehouse pulled within 6-3, Savannah State retired the final six Maroon Tigers in order to close out the split.
Team Comparison
- Hits: Morehouse 9 | Savannah State 7
- Errors: Both teams 0
- Left on base: Morehouse 6 | Savannah State 5
- Extra-base hits: Morehouse 2 | Savannah State 4
- Walks drawn: Morehouse 2 | Savannah State 6
Morehouse Leaders
Game 3 — Savannah State 10, Morehouse 2 (Sun)
Savannah State struck first in the fourth when T. Tucker launched a solo home run to left-center, but Morehouse answered right away in the bottom half when Elijah James homered to left-center to even the score at 1-1. The Tigers moved back in front in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Tucker, then the Maroon Tigers pulled even again in the seventh when Kendyn Fredieu lifted a sacrifice fly to center to score Alec Waller and make it 2-2. Savannah State grabbed control in the eighth on a two-run single by H. Smith, then blew the game open with a six-run ninth that featured an RBI single, three bases-loaded walks, and two wild pitches.
Key Moments
- Vernon Clay gave Morehouse a chance all afternoon, working 7.0 innings and allowing just two runs while striking out four.
- James' solo homer in the fourth erased Savannah State's first lead and kept the Maroon Tigers from letting the game get away early.
- Fredieu's sacrifice fly in the seventh tied the game at 2-2 and gave Morehouse late momentum heading into the final two innings.
- The turning point came in the eighth, when Savannah State's H. Smith delivered a two-run single, and the visitors followed with a six-run ninth to create separation.
Team Comparison
- Hits: Savannah State 11 | Morehouse 6
- Errors: Morehouse 0 | Savannah State 1
- Left on Base: Savannah State 11 | Morehouse 6
- Walks: Savannah State 11 | Morehouse 3
Morehouse Leaders
- Elijah Pinckney: 2-for-3, double, walk
- Elijah James: 1-for-4, home run, RBI, run scored
- Kendyn Fredieu: 1-for-2, RBI, sacrifice fly
- Mariano McLean: 1-for-2, double, walk
- Vernon Clay: 7.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 SO
Up Next
Morehouse heads back on the road on Tuesday, March 3, with a 1 p.m. game at Shorter University. For up-to-date athletic information on the Maroon Tigers, follow them on social media or online at www.morehouseathletics.com.
