LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Talladega College baseball team opened up a three-game conference series on the road with Philander Smith College today. The Tornadoes swept the doubleheader part of the series to secure the series win with a 14-3 win in game one and a 19-0 victory in game 2 (called in the fifth due to weather). Talladega is now 25-15 and 13-3 in the GCAC while the Panthers fall to 2-26 and 2-15 in the conference.

Talladega looks to go for the road series sweep tomorrow against Philander Smith at noon.

Game 1: Talladega 14, Philander Smither 3 – 7 innings
Talladega took an early 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the first, but the Panthers pushed two runs across in the first to go up, 2-1. The Tornadoes responded in the top of the second when it tied the game at two.

The Tornadoes kept the scoring going in the top of the third when it plated three runs on a pair of hits and two walks and then plated another three runs in the fourth to push their lead to, 8-2.

The Panthers got one of the runs back in the bottom of the fifth off a solo home run to cut the lead to 8-3 before the inning ended.

Talladega in the top of the sixth increased its lead to 10-3 off of a two-run home run to left field by Nomar Garcia.

Headed into the top of the seventh, Talladega made sure to put the game out of reach when four runs crossed the plate. It all started when pinch hitters Jaylen Mateo and Birgilio Santana belted back-to-back home runs to make it, 12-3.  Talladega sent its third pinch hitter Ronaldo Rivera to the plate and he drew a walk to keep things going. He then was lifted for pinch runner Victor Rivera. Rivera stole second and later took third on a passed ball. A sac fly from Evan Baker scored Rivera to push the lead to 13-3 with one down now. Following a strikeout for the second out, pinch hitter Jeriel Lamboy parked a solo shot over the center field wall to make it a 14-3 game before the inning ended.

Talladega reliever Dewinel Vazquez pitched a scoreless seventh allowing just one hit and striking out one to end the game.

Starting pitcher Jose Franco picked up his sixth win (6-3) of the season. He allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits over six innings of work. He struck out five in the process.

As a team, Talladega hit nine extra-base hits in the form of three doubles, one triple, and five home runs.

First baseman Miguel Oropeza paced all hitters as he went 3-for-4 with four RBIs, three runs scored, and a home run.

Teammates Darlin Fernandez, Jackson Armando, Garcia, and Santiago combined going 7-for-14 with five runs scored, four RBIs, two doubles, a triple, two stolen bases, and a home run.

Game 2: Talladega 19, Philander Smith 0 – 5 innings
Talladega wasted no time getting on the board in game two as it tallied three runs in the top of the first on five hits. Victor Rivera got things going when he singled up the middle and then stole second. He later scored off Fernandez's RBI single to left to make it, 1-0. He later stole second and then scored off a throwing error by the pitcher when Oropeza laid down a bunt single. Oropeza was thrown out at second trying to take it off the error. With one down in the inning, Garcia doubled into the right-center field gap. He later scored when Mateo singled to left to make it 3-0 before the inning ended.

After both teams went scoreless in the second, the Tornadoes kicked the door down as it scored eight runs on four hits and error to take an 11-0 lead.

Talladega plated four more runs in the fourth and fifth to go up 19-0 before the game was called due to rain going into the sixth.

Starting pitcher Daniel Jose picked up the win to move to 5-1 on the season. He allowed four hits over three innings while striking out seven.

Fernandez and Oropeza each finished with three hits apiece. They combined going 6-for-7 with three RBIs, four runs scored, and three stolen bases.