TALLADEGA, Ala. – The Talladega College baseball team split a conference doubleheader with visiting Wiley College this afternoon. The loss for Wiley today was its first conference loss of the season. The Tornadoes fell 10-7 in game one while winning 8-2 in game two. Talladega is now 22-15 and 10-3 in the GCAC while the Wildcats are 19-15 and 13-1 in the conference.

Talladega is home tomorrow at 1 p.m. to face Wiley in the rubber game of the series.

Game 1: Talladega 7, Wiley 10 – 8 innings
Talladega took a 1-0 lead into the top of the third, but it didn't hold as the Wildcats plated three runs on three hits while taking advantage of a pair of errors to go up, 3-1.

The Tornadoes answered in the bottom half of the third when it posted three runs. With one down, Victor Rivera singled to short and later advanced to second when Darlin Fernandez walked.

Talladega then loaded the bases when Miguel Oropeza was plunked. Rivera later scored off of Nomar Garcias' fielder's choice that sent Fernandez to third to put runners on the corners. Oropeza was out at second on the play for out number two. Both Fernandez and Garcias executed a double steal, which allowed Fernandez to score to tie the game at three and a throwing error by the second baseman allowed Garcias to take third.  Garcias was able to score when the shortstop committed a throwing error to try and get Isaac Guzman at first. Talladega went back in front after that before the inning ended.

Talladega added a run in the bottom of the fifth to go up, 5-3.

Wiley tied the game in the top of the seventh when it plated a pair of runs and then posted five runs in the top of the eighth to go up, 10-5.

The Tornadoes threatened in the bottom half of the eighth when Jahir Cruz blasted a two-run home run to make it 10-7 with two outs. Rivera kept the inning going with a single but a popout to short ended the game and rally.

Rivera paced all Talladega hitters going 3-for-5 with two runs scored, and a stolen base.

Reliever Ramses Ortega took the loss (1-4) as he allowed five runs (four earned) in 1.1 innings of work. Starting pitcher Jose Franco scattered five hits over six innings of work allowing four runs (two earned) while fanning four.

Game: 2 Talladega 8, Wiley 2 – 7 innings
Headed into the bottom of the fifth down 2-0, Talladega pushed four runs across on three hits to grab the lead. It started when Allen Morel was hit by a pitch. He was then later lifted for pinch-runner Fernandez. Fernandez then stole second and later moved to third on a wild pitch. Eddie Velazquez reached first off a wild pitch on strike three, which also allowed Fernandez to score to make it, 2-1. Pinch runner Jaquan Nieves moved to third off a sac bunt to the catcher. Following a strikeout for the second out, Jeriel Lamboy walked to put runners on first and second. Both runners scored off of Oropeza's triple to the right center to put Talladega in front, 3-2.  Garcias' RBI double to right later scored Oropeza to push the lead to 4-2 before the inning ended.

Talladega added another four runs in the bottom of the sixth off of a pair of hits to go up, 8-2. The lead would hold and give the Tornadoes their 22^nd win of the season.

Oropeza finished the game going 2-for-3 with three RBIs, a run scored, a stolen base, and a triple.

Starter Daniel Jose picked up his fourth win of the season. He allowed two runs on six hits in five innings of work while striking out seven.

Reliever Juan De Dios earned his second save of the year. He struck out three in two innings of action.