ATLANTA, Ga. – The Golden Rams continued to have their way in SIAC play. Albany State used a 6-run third in the opener and plated the first nine runs of the late game to run its win streak to 13 games and completed the series sweep of Clark Atlanta, 11-4 and 9-5, on Saturday.
Trailing 2-0 after the opening two innings, ASU posted a big at bat in the third of Game 1. Following a Xander Little walk, Jonathan Logsdon belted a 2-run homer to left field before Zane Ross blasted a solo shot for a 3-2 lead. With Luke Addison and Hill Corley on base with walks, Nathan Saavedra made it three homers in the frame with a 3-run variety to make it 6-2. Brady Davis shut down the Panthers with three scoreless innings in the fourth through seventh frames and Tyler Bullock extended it two more innings of scoreless work.
Leading 3-0 in the late contest, the Golden Rams broke open the scoring with five in the third trip at the plate. Dominic Rutigliano lofted a sac fly to score the first after singles by each of Austin Roberts, Saavedra and Emory Stephens. Logsdon laced a two-run double before Ross connected on his second homer of the day for a 2-run blast and 8-0 tally. Clark Atlanta put five scores on the scoreboard between the fourth and fifth innings, but Gercal Reyes and Addison did fired a scoreless inning apiece to end the home threat.
With the pair of wins, ASU runs its win streak to 13 games. The Golden Rams improved to 22-7 overall and a 19-2 mark in the SIAC rankings.
Over the 16 innings on the day, Ross went 3 for 6 with his pair of home runs, scored four times and drove in four. Logsdon and Saavedra both also put three in the hits column – Logsdon at 3 for 8 with a home run, a double, three runs and five RBI, while Saavedra was 3 for 7 with two singles, a home run, three runs and three RBI. Addison doubled and singled while Corley, Addison and Roberts all singled twice.
Davis improved his season pitching record to 5-1 with his four innings of two-hit and six-strikeout work. Calvin Baker claimed the second contest victory to make him 4-1 by pitching the fifth inning.
ASU has three days off until it hosts Columbus State in a single game on Wednesday (April 3) in a 5 p.m. first pitch.
