TALLADEGA, Ala. – The Talladega College baseball team slugged its way to a 26-2 run-rule victory over Philander Smith College to close out the home regular season this afternoon. With the win, the Tornadoes swept the season series 3-0.
The Tornadoes (33-14) wasted no time getting on the board as they put up 10 runs on four hits in the bottom of the first. It started when
Jahir Cruz was plunked to reach first, then he stole second to move into scoring position.
Jaquan Nieves reached first after being walked. Both runners then executed a double steal to move up 90 feet. Cruz later came around to score off of
Miguel Oropeza's RBI groundout. On the next pitch, Nieves stole third and then scored to make it 2-0 off of
Birgilio Santana's RBI double to straightaway center.
With no outs still in the first,
Isaac Guzman reached first on an error, and then a second error allowed him to take second while sending Santana to third all on the same play.
Darlin Fernandez drew a walk to load the bases for Talladega. Fernando Crisostom became the second Tornado in the inning to be hit by a pitch, which allowed Santana to score and make it 3-0. Following a Panthers pitching change,
Jeriel Lamboy singled to center to score Guzman and push the lead to 4-0 and keep the bases loaded. An RBI walk to
Yahil Figueroa pushed Fernandez across the plate to make it 5-0.
Cruz, who started the inning, got in on the action with an RBI of his own off a sacrifice fly to center to score Crisostom to increase the lead to 6-0. Nieves then picked up his second walk of the inning to load the bases once again for the Tornadoes. Oropeza tallied his second RBI this time on being hit by a pitch to make it 7-0. Santana, who had an RBI double already, added two RBIs off a single to center to score Figueroa and Nieves to increase the lead to 9-0. Oropeza later came around to score off Guzman's RBI double to left center to make it 10-0 before the inning ended.
Talladega went on to add seven runs in the second, two in the third, and two in the fifth to go up 21-0.
The Panthers (3-28) added a pair of runs in the sixth, but Talladega in its half of the sixth added five runs to push the lead to 26-2 and secure a run-rule win.
Talladega starter
Daniel Jose picked up his fourth win of the season. He allowed a hit and a walk over four innings, striking out five.
The Tornadoes as a team registered 10 walks and 15 hits (eight singles, five doubles and two triples).
Santana finished the game going 3-for-4 with five RBIs, three runs scored, and a double. He was 1 of 5 players to register two or more hits.
Oropeza and Guzman combined to go 5-for-8 with eight RBIs, six runs scored, two walks, three doubles, a triple, and two hit by pitches.
Talladega will close out the regular season on the road next weekend when it travels to Holly Springs, Mississippi, to face conference foe Rust College. The doubleheader part of the series will take place on Saturday, with game one starting at noon.
