MACON, GA | Facing the end of its SIAC Baseball Tournament run, No. 5 Morehouse answered with one of its most complete performances of the season, rolling past No. 8 Kentucky State, 15-2, in seven innings Friday at Luther Williams Field. The Maroon Tigers overcame an early deficit, took control with steady pressure in the middle innings and broke the game open with a seven-run fifth to continue their run through the elimination bracket.
Morehouse 15, Kentucky State 2
Morehouse fell behind in the first inning after Kentucky State used a walk, stolen base and sacrifice fly to take a 1-0 lead. The Maroon Tigers answered in the second when Nicholas Pittman was hit by a pitch, moved around the bases, and scored on Satchel Hamilton's sacrifice bunt (squeeze play) to tie the game.
Morehouse took the lead for good in the third. TJ Whiteman singled to center, moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, and came home when Elijah Pinckney lined an RBI single to center. Pinckney later scored on Mariano McLean's sacrifice fly, giving the Maroon Tigers a 3-1 advantage.
Kentucky State cut the margin to 3-2 in the fourth, but Morehouse immediately got the run back when Hamilton scored on a wild pitch. From there, the game belonged to the Maroon Tigers. In the fifth, Morehouse sent a wave of pressure at Kentucky State, scoring seven runs on a mix of walks, small ball, aggressive baserunning and timely contact. Tripp Braswell and Whiteman drew bases-loaded walks, Pinckney ripped a two-run double down the left-field line, Myles Tucker added an RBI groundout, and Kendyn Fredieu capped the inning with an RBI single to right-center.
The Maroon Tigers added four more runs in the sixth to put the game out of reach. Caleb Harley singled, Whiteman walked, and Tucker delivered a two-run single through the right side. McLean followed with another sacrifice fly before Pittman drove in the final run with a single through the left side.
On the mound, Vernon Clay gave Morehouse exactly what it needed in an elimination game. Clay worked six innings, allowed two runs on four hits, struck out five and kept Kentucky State from building a big inning after the first. Dejorryn Pettis finished the game with a scoreless seventh, striking out the final batter to close the win.
Key Moments
The game shifted in the bottom of the fifth, when Morehouse turned a 4-2 lead into an 11-2 cushion. The Maroon Tigers forced Kentucky State deep into counts, drew three run-scoring walks in the game, capitalized on defensive miscues, and then got the inning's biggest swing from Pinckney's two-run double.
Morehouse also played clean baseball defensively, finishing without an error while Kentucky State committed three. That mattered in an elimination game, especially with Clay controlling the pace and keeping Kentucky State from extending innings.
Team Comparison
- Hits: Morehouse 8, Kentucky State 5
- Errors: Kentucky State 3, Morehouse 0
- Walks drawn: Morehouse 14, Kentucky State 4
- Extra-base hits: Morehouse 1 double; Kentucky State 0
- Runners left on base: Morehouse 12, Kentucky State 6
- Strikeouts by pitching staff: Morehouse 6, Kentucky State 7
- Pitching: Morehouse allowed two runs on five hits across seven innings; Kentucky State allowed 15 runs on eight hits, 14 walks and three hit batters.
Morehouse Leaders
- Elijah Pinckney: 2-for-4, double, 3 RBI, 2 runs, hit by pitch.
- Myles Tucker: 1-for-3, 3 RBI, 2 walks.
- Kendyn Fredieu: 2-for-2, RBI, run, walk, stolen base.
- TJ Whiteman: 1-for-2, 3 runs, RBI, 2 walks, hit by pitch.
- Satchel Hamilton: 3 runs, RBI, 2 walks, 2 sacrifice bunts.
- Mariano McLean: 2 RBI, 2 sacrifice flies, 2 walks, run.
- Nicholas Pittman: 1-for-3, RBI, run, walk, hit by pitch.
- Vernon Clay: Win, 6.0 innings, 4 hits, 2 runs, 5 strikeouts.
- Dejorryn Pettis: 1.0 scoreless inning, 1 hit, 1 strikeout.
Up Next
Morehouse continues its run through the elimination bracket Sunday, May 3, when the Maroon Tigers face No. 7 Miles at 9 a.m. in the SIAC Baseball Tournament at Luther Williams Field in Macon, Ga. The tournament schedule was adjusted after the final game Friday and Saturday's games were postponed due to anticipated weather. For up-to-date athletic information on the Maroon Tigers, follow them on social media or online at www.morehouseathletics.com or on Instagram at morehouse_baseball.
