MACON, GA | Facing elimination and trailing by five runs after the top of the fifth inning, No. 5 Morehouse found another answer Sunday morning at Luther Williams Field. The Maroon Tigers scored six unanswered runs over the final four innings, capped by
Cam Simmons' walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the ninth, to defeat No. 7 Miles, 8-7, in the third round of the 2026 SIAC Baseball Tournament.
Morehouse improved to 24-20 and continued its run through the elimination bracket, while Miles saw its tournament stay come to an end. The Maroon Tigers trailed 7-2 after Miles put together a five-run fifth inning, but Morehouse responded with two runs in the sixth, three in the eighth and the winning run in the ninth.
Scoring Summary
Miles struck first in the top of the second inning. Kaleb Raston doubled to left field and moved to third on a single by Trey Walker before Antwan Jackson brought him home with an RBI single to center. Walker later scored on a sacrifice bunt by Myles Wessels, giving the Golden Bears a 2-0 lead.
Morehouse answered immediately in the bottom half. Myles Tucker opened the inning with a double to left, and Elijah James followed with a bunt single before stealing second. Mariano McLean came through with a two-run single to left center, scoring Tucker and James to tie the game at 2-2.
Miles broke the game open in the fifth. Malachi Jeffries doubled, Ajani Lyons reached on a dropped fly ball, and Mason Lynch was hit by a pitch to load the bases. A wild pitch scored Jeffries, Gregory Willis followed with a two-run single to bring in Lyons and Lynch, and Raston added an RBI single to score Willis. Jackson later lifted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Raston and pushing Miles ahead 7-2.
The Maroon Tigers began chipping away in the sixth. Cam Simmons walked and Satchel Hamilton followed with a walk before Robert Robinson Jr. doubled to right center, scoring Simmons. Tripp Braswell then lifted a sacrifice fly to left, bringing home Hamilton and cutting the deficit to 7-4.
Morehouse's biggest swing came in the eighth. Simmons led off the inning with a solo home run to right field, trimming the margin to 7-5. After Raymond Jenkins drew a walk, Robinson Jr. followed with a two-run homer, tying the game at 7-7 and giving the Maroon Tigers life.
In the ninth, Elijah James was hit by a pitch with one out, and McLean was also hit by a pitch to move the winning run into scoring position. Simmons then lined a single down the right-field line, scoring James from second and sending Morehouse into the next round with an 8-7 walk-off victory.
Key Moments
The turning point came after Miles' five-run fifth inning. Morehouse did not allow the Golden Bears to score again, as Walter Nunnally stabilized the game out of the bullpen and gave the Maroon Tigers' offense time to work back into the contest.
Robinson Jr. delivered the biggest power swing of the morning with his monstrous two-run homer (430 feet) in the eighth, tying the game after Morehouse had trailed by five. Simmons then finished the comeback one inning later, driving in the winning run after also homering earlier in the game.
The Maroon Tigers also turned their opportunities into production, going 4-for-8 with runners in scoring position. Miles created pressure throughout the game with 10 stolen bases, but Morehouse's late offense and bullpen work proved to be the difference.
Freshmen Deliver in the Moment
The comeback carried a heavy freshman imprint. Simmons came off the bench and changed the game, reaching base three times, scoring twice, launching a solo home run in the eighth and then ending the game with a line-drive RBI single down the right-field line in the ninth. In a tournament elimination game, he finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs, two runs scored, a walk and the two biggest swings of the morning.
Braswell also played a major role in keeping Morehouse alive. The freshman drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning to help cut into the deficit, then later moved to the mound and worked the ninth inning to earn the win. In a pressure spot, Braswell allowed one hit, struck out one and kept Miles off the board, setting the stage for Morehouse's walk-off finish.
Just as important was the work of freshman right-hander Walter Nunnally, who steadied the game when Morehouse needed it most. After Miles built a 7-2 lead, Nunnally gave the Maroon Tigers four scoreless innings out of the bullpen, holding the Golden Bears without a hit while striking out four. His outing stopped Miles' momentum, protected the comeback window and allowed the Morehouse offense to chip away before eventually winning it in the ninth.
Team Comparison
- Hits: Morehouse 9, Miles 8
- Errors: Morehouse 1, Miles 0
- Extra-Base Hits: Morehouse had two doubles and two home runs; Miles had two doubles.
- Runners Left On Base: Morehouse 9, Miles 7
- Runners in Scoring Position: Morehouse 4-for-8; Miles 4-for-14
- Stolen Bases: Miles 10, Morehouse 1
- Strikeouts: Morehouse pitching struck out six; Miles pitching struck out seven.
- Walks Drawn: Morehouse drew seven walks; Miles drew four.
Morehouse Leaders
- Robert Robinson Jr.: 3-for-4, double, home run, three RBIs, one run scored, one walk
- Cam Simmons: 2-for-3, home run, two RBIs, two runs scored, one walk, walk-off RBI single
- Mariano McLean: 1-for-3, two RBIs, one walk, one hit-by-pitch
- Myles Tucker: 1-for-4, double, one run scored
- Elijah James: 1-for-4, two runs scored, one stolen base, one hit-by-pitch
- Tripp Braswell: One RBI on a sacrifice fly; earned the win on the mound with one scoreless inning, one strikeout
- Walter Nunnally: Four scoreless innings of relief, no hits allowed, four strikeouts
- Noah Grayson: Four innings as the starter, allowing two earned runs with one strikeout
Up Next
With the win, Morehouse continues in the elimination bracket and will face the winner of No. 4 Savannah State and No. 6 Benedict tonight at 6 p.m. in the SIAC Baseball Tournament at Luther Williams Field in Macon, Ga. 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.
