ALBANY, Ga. – It is a good thing the Golden Rams don't play for a few days as they may need time to recharge their bats. Albany State broke open Sunday's baseball game with an 8-run fifth and 10-run sixth and completed its sixth-straight SIAC series sweep with a 21-3 victory over Benedict College.
Leading 3-1 heading to the home fifth, ASU's first three hitters reach base before Seth Stargell singled home two of the runners to begin the barrage. The Golden Rams had two runners touch home after wild pitches before Johnathan Logsdon and Zane Ross had back-to-back RBI doubles and Hill Corley added his own as the lead expanded to 11-1.
If the fifth-inning run explosion was not enough, the Golden Rams continued in the sixth. ASU hit double figure in runs in the sixth as nine different players drove in at least one run and those runs were driven in six different ways. In fact, Ross was the lone multi-RBI hitter and he ended the at bat with a two-run single.
The Golden Rams improved to 28-9 overall and a SIAC-leading 25-2 conference record after sweeping their six league series in a row.
Other than the 18-hits, Landon Kiefer ran his season pitching record to 7-1 after he went the first five innings and allowed only four hits and one earned run with six strikeouts.
The ASU offense had three four-hit players and a third having two hits of the team's 18. Logsdon started the lineup again with a 4 for 6 day with two doubles, a 2-run homer, four runs and four RBI. Zane Ross was a perfect 4 for 4 with a double, two runs and four RBI, while Austin Roberts added a 4 for 5 day with a double, two runs and two RBI.
Corley contribued a double and a single, two runs, three RBI, a sac fly and a stolen base. Luke Addison, Bradley Smith, Stargell and Nathan Saavedra rounded out those with a hit.
ASU put the first run on the scoreboard when Corley singled in Addison, who reached on a fielder's choice. Tied at 1-1 in the home fourth, Xander Little walked and continued the walk around the bases on Logsdon two-run round tripper and 3-1 edge.
ASU has the next week off before it travels across the state to start the next series at Savannah State on Friday, April 19, in a 5 p.m. first pitch.
