ATLANTA, Ga. – After almost a week away from the diamond, the Golden Rams went to work in the series opener. Albany State broke open the game with a 9-run sixth-inning explosion and four pitchers combined for a 3-hit shutout in a 14-0 victory over Clark Atlanta on Friday.
Leading 5-0 with one out in the top of the sixth, Hill Corley, Austin Roberts and Nathan Saavedra each walked before Emory Stephens singled in one. Dominic Rutigliano lined a two-run hit before Zane Ross and Carson Collier added their own run-scoring singles to break open the contest with the nine runs to a 14-0 score. The ASU pitching quartet of Sebastian Griffeth, Andrew McBride, William Beasley and Thomas Willis combined to allow only a lead-off single in the home second and solo singles in both the fourth and sixth in the combined shutout.
The ASU victory ran its record to 21-7 overall and 17-2 in the SIAC after the 11th victory in a row.
The Golden Rams took advantage of 14 walks at the plate to put the runners on base for their 14 runs over seven innings.
Austin Roberts went 3 for 3 to lead the ASU 11-hit effort where he scored three times, drove in three runs, doubled and walked twice. Both Stephens and Rutigliano added 2 for 3 outings – Stephens drove in one and scored a run, while Rutigliano drove in three teammates and had one run.
Saavedra lofted two sac flies for his two RBI to go with a single and two runs. Ross lined a hit with two RBI, a sac fly, a stolen base and a run. Jonathan Logsdon and Collier finished the hitting with singles and both drove in one run.
The ASU pitchers of Griffeth, McBride, Beasely and Willis struck out four Panthers to go with only giving up the three singles.
Starting the scoring in the second, Roberts double, Saavedra singled and Stephens walked to load the bases. Rutigliano plated the first with a single to left before Ross lifted a sac fly for a 2-0 lead.
Saavedra added a sac fly and Logsdon a bases-loaded walk to double the margin to 4-0 in the third. Roberts sliced a RBI hit in the fourth for a 5-0 visitors' lead.
ASU finishes its 3-game series at Clark Atlanta on Saturday starting at 12 p.m. for a doubleheader.
