ALBANY, Ga. – It looked like many of the season's series. Albany State took what turned out to be a pair of close baseball game from Edward Waters, 5-2 and 12-10, and completed its ninth Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference series sweep.
Leading 2-1 heading to the home fifth of the opener, Zane Ross, Bradley Smith and Hill Corley dotted the bags following two singles and a hit by pitch. Austin Roberts lined a single to right field for a pair of runs and 4-1 lead. Luke Addison added a RBI hit in the sixth and he finished the game on the mound to complete the victory.
The Golden Rams (34-10/30-3 SIAC) stopped the bleeding just in time for the late contest. Ahead 2-0 in the fourth frame, ASU saw 10 batters reach base with six hits and four walks as part of a nine-run half inning. Emory Stephens sliced a two-run single and Addison, Roberts and Seth Stargell posted RBI singles as well for an 11-0 advantage. Down 12-0 in the top of the seventh, Edward Waters put together a big final push with eight hits and put 10 runs on the scoreboard, but it was unable to get the final two to tie.
The ASU offense produced 26 hits in the 14 trips to the plate. Jonathan Logsdon did his part at the top of the order again with a 6 for 9 afternoon with two runs, a double and an RBI on a sac fly. Addison chipped in three singles, a double, a run and three RBI. Bradley Smith added a double and two singles, while Roberts singled four times with three RBI and a pair of runs. Stephens lined a trio of singles with two runs and two RBI and Zane Ross had a double and one single. Stargell had a 2 for 2 second game, while Nathan Saavedra and Xander Little both singled once.
Brady Davis improved to an impressive 9-1 record as he went the opening four innings and allowed only one earned run of Game 1. Andrew McBride and Gercel Reyes posted scoreless outings.
In the second contest, Landon Kiefer (9-1) covered the first four frames and fanned one. Four relievers of William Beasely, Keith Taylor, Thomas Willis and Tyler Bullock recorded scoreless outings.
Game 1
Smith doubled home Ross, who doubled himself, for a 1-0 lead in the home first. Logsdon lofted a sac fly in the second for a 2-0 edge.
The Tigers cut the margin half with a run in the third before the Roberts two-run hit in the fifth was the difference.
Game 2
Corley drove a sac fly to the outfield for the first run of the contest in the opening frame. A EWU error brought home the second ASU run in the third, before the big home nine-run fourth.
ASU moves onto the SIAC Tournament. The Golden Rams first contest will be next Thursday, May 2, in the first game on its home field on the West Campus against an opponent and time to be determined.
