Again? Savannah State eliminates Albany State from SIAC Championship tournament

ALBANY – 

It may feel kind of like déjà vu. For the second straight season, the Savannah State Tigers have eliminated top-seeded Albany State from the SIAC Championship tournament in Albany. Albany State left five runners on base in the final two innings Sunday, and Savannah State held on for a  7-6 win to move to the championship game against Edward Waters University, ending Albany State’s hopes of claiming the tournament title to pair with its regular season title.

Savannah State led 7-3 as the Golden Rams headed into the bottom of the seventh inning. Former Lee County standout and now SIAC Player of the Year Jonathan Logsdon belted a solo home run to put the score at 7-4 and added two more RBIs with a two-out single to center in the eighth that scored Emory Stephens and Seth Stargell. Zane Ross reached on an error, and Luke Addison followed with a walk to load the bases.  Unfortunately for the Rams, clean-up batter Nathan Saavedra struck out swinging to end the inning.

The Rams got two runners on the bases in the bottom of the ninth with a walk from Austin Roberts and a two-out single from Emory Stephens. Head coach Scot Hemmings put Dominic Rutigliano in as a pinch hitter, but he struck out swinging to end the game and give Savannah State the win.

The Rams put together 13 hits in the game, led by Logsdon, who had three. Addison, Saavedra, Hill Corley and Stephens all had two hits.

Gavin McBride started the game on the mound and pitched six innings with nine hits and five earned runs. Tyler Bullock pitched one-third of an inning and took the loss. He allowed two runs on three hits. Gercal Reyes shut down the Tigers for the remainder of the game.

The Golden Rams were in the loser’s bracket after Savannah State beat ASU 19-3 on Friday, but the Rams survived Saturday’s game against No. 2 seed Spring Hill, 7-3.

Saturday night’s game didn’t end until after 11 p.m. because it was postponed due to lightning followed by a rain delay in the third inning.

Landon Kiefer took the win on the mound for Albany State after pitching seven strong innings. He allowed six hits and two earned runs, walked five and struck out 10.

Shortstop Emory Stephens led the batting for Albany State with a bases-loaded double in the fourth inning that scored three runs.

The Golden Rams complete the season with a 37-12 record and now wait to see if there is an opportunity for post-season play.

By Joe Whitfield
Sports EditorJoeWhitfield[email protected]