Albany State sweeps doubleheader after late-inning heartbreak against Morehouse

ATLANTA – After a heartbreaking loss in Friday’s series opener, the Albany State Golden Rams responded with a doubleheader sweep Saturday at Morehouse College, seizing early momentum by scoring in the first inning of both games.

“Today was the best we have played,” Albany State Head Coach Scot Hemmings said after Saturday night’s sweep. “It’s the best we’ve hit, pitched, and played defense. We’ve been losing a lot late in games, so it was nice to see a pitcher come in, compete, and save the game. Tyler Bullock came in and shut the door in the sixth and seventh innings of that last game.”

The Golden Rams dominated Saturday’s first game, scoring seven runs in the first inning on their way to a 22-6 victory. The inning started with Matt Delay drawing a walk, followed by singles from Austin Roberts, Luke Addison, Hill Corley, Tyler Turner, and Nate Saavedra, along with a double from Emory Stephens. Fourteen batters came to the plate, and Albany State built a commanding 7-0 lead.

Turner knocked in another run in the second inning, and Saavedra followed with a two-run homer to extend the lead to 10-0. The Golden Rams continued to pour it on with a run in the third, nine more runs in the fourth, and two in the fifth.

Landon Kiefer earned the win on the mound, pitching five innings and allowing three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five. William Beasley threw a perfect sixth inning, and Chase Ledger closed out the game in the seventh.

The series finale was more competitive, but the Golden Rams jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first inning and held off a late rally to secure a 7-5 win. After Austin Roberts was hit by a pitch and Trenten Justice and Hill Corley drew walks to load the bases, Emory Stephens lined a two-run single to center. Tyler Turner followed with an RBI single to left to complete the three-run inning.

Albany State added two more runs in the third on a single by Stephens and a sacrifice fly by Saavedra. The Golden Rams led 7-1 in the sixth when Morehouse mounted a comeback against reliever Austin Lee. After Lee retired the first two batters, six straight Maroon Tigers reached base, scoring four runs before Tyler Bullock came in to end the threat and secure the win.

Andrew McBride started for Albany State, pitching four innings while allowing one run on five hits and four walks with two strikeouts.

The series opener on Friday night slipped away from Albany State, as the Golden Rams took a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth but saw Morehouse rally with three runs to claim a 5-4 victory.

Xander Little, Matt Delay, and Will Corley each hit solo home runs to put Albany State in control. Corley’s sixth-inning RBI single to center gave the Golden Rams a 1-0 lead, but Morehouse answered with two runs in the bottom half to go up 2-1.

Little tied the game in the seventh with a homer over the right-field fence, and Delay followed with a blast to left, giving Albany State a 3-2 lead. Corley added another solo shot in the eighth to extend the lead to 4-2.

However, the Maroon Tigers staged a dramatic comeback in the ninth. Calfin Butts hit a pinch-hit home run, and leadoff hitter Elijah Pinckney delivered a double that knocked in two runs, sealing the 5-4 win for Morehouse.

Gercal Reyes pitched eight strong innings for Albany State, but reliever Calvin Baker couldn’t hold the lead in the final inning.

“I am hoping we are hitting our stride at the right time,” Hemmings said. “We have three weekends left to find it before the tournament.”

The Golden Rams will travel to the Birmingham area next weekend for a three-game series against Miles College (18-17-1). The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday, with the series finale on Sunday.