TALLADEGA, Ala. – The Talladega College baseball team looked to go for the sweep, but Rust College had other plans as it took the rubber game of the series 11-9 this afternoon. Talladega is now 6-9 and 2-1 in the GCAC while Rust is 2-14 and 1-2 in conference play.

The Tornadoes took an early 2-0 lead after the first, but Rust put up four runs in the top of the second to take a 4-2 lead. Talladega was able to get one of the runs back in the bottom of the second to make it, 4-3.

After a scoreless third for both teams, Rust added a run in the fourth and the fifth to push its lead to 6-3 after five.

Going into the bottom of the seventh, Miguel Oropeza and Jose Santiago drew back-to-back walks to start things off for Talladega.  Oropeza later scored off Armando Jackson's RBI single into right-center to make it, 6-4. Santiago took third on the play and the throw allowed Jackson to take second. Nomar Garcia's single into left-center drove in Santiago while sending Jackson to third and to bring Talladega within one. Garcia moved into scoring position after stealing second.  An RBI sac bunt from Eddie Velazquez scored Santiago to tie the game at six before the inning ended.

Rust retook the lead in the top of the eighth when it plated five runs on three hits to go up, 11-6.  The Tornadoes got one of the runs back in the bottom half of the eight to make it a run game.

With Talladega down to its final three outs of the game, the Tornadoes looked to rally and sweep the series. With one down, Garcia and Velazquez both walked before pinch hitter Isaac Guzman singled home Garcia to make it, 11-8. Victor Rivera kept the inning alive as he walked to load the bases and force a Rust pitching change.  Velazquez crossed home off Darlin Fernandez's fielder's choice making it 11-9 before a ground out to second ended the rally.

Talladega as a team finished with eight stolen bases.

Garcia finished the day going a perfect 3-for-3 with a home run, two runs scored, two RBIs, a stolen base, and two walks to pace Talladega.

Talladega reliever Ramses Ortega took the loss to fall to 1-2 on the year. He allowed five runs on three hits in 1.1 innings of work.

Talladega is back on Tuesday when it hosts Tougaloo College in a weekday conference doubleheader starting at 11:30 AM.