NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Talladega College baseball team split a conference road doubleheader with Dillard University this evening. The Tornadoes fell 4-3 in game one and rallied to win 10-0 in game two. Talladega is now 16-12 overall and 7-2 in the conference while Dillard is now 7-19 and 3-4 in the GCAC.
Both teams are back in action tomorrow for the rubber game of the series. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
Game 1: Talladega 3, Dillard 4 – 7 innings
Talladega took 1-0 on a single and three walks in the top of the first.
The Tornadoes added to its lead in the top of the fourth when
Darlin Fernandez hit a solo home run with two outs to push the lead to 2-0 before the inning ended.
Dillard was able to cut the lead in half in the bottom of the sixth to make it a 2-1 game when it used a walk, a stolen base, and a pair of hits.
Talladega was able to get the run back in the top of the seventh to go up 3-1, but Dillard rallied in the bottom half as it pushed three runs across on four singles to pick up the 4-3 win.
Fernandez finished the game going 2-for-4 with a home run, an RBI and two runs scored.
Starter
Jose Franco scattered seven hits over six innings allowing four runs (all earned) while striking out five.
Game 2: Talladega 10, Dillard 0 – 7 innings
Talladega once again got on the board in the top of the first as it took a 1-0 lead.
The Tornadoes went on to plate three runs in the top of the second to go up, 4-0. It all started with one out when
Jose Santiago walked and later moved to second off of
Eddie Velazquez's single. Talladega was able to put runners on the corners when
Victor Rivera reached first on a fielder's choice. Velazquez was out at second on the play for the second out of the frame. Rivera later stole second to draw the throw down, which allowed Santiago to score from third to make it, 2-0. Fernandez, who hit a home run in game one belted his second home run of the day, but this time it was a two-run shot that made it 4-0 before the inning ended.
Talladega added a pair of runs in the third and the fourth to go up 8-0 and then later added two more runs in the top of the seventh to win, 10-0.
Fernandez went 2-for-3 with three runs scored, two RBIs, a home run, a walk, a triple and a stolen base. Fellow teammate Velazque finished the game going 2-for-2 with an RBI, a run scored, a walk, a stolen base and a home run.
Samuel Guadamuz picked up the win as he allowed five hits over seven innings of work while fanning six.
