Stillman Baseball Continues Hot Start

Stillman College baseball opened the Tigers' Homecoming week with a double header sweep of Oakwood University, 10-4 and 9-1, in its 2024 Tiger Field home opener.

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Dylan Speakman had three hits and two RBIs to lead Stillman on the day in his own home debut at Tiger Field.

GAME 1: STILLMAN 10, OAKWOOD 4

Oakwood matched Stillman run-for-run through the first 3.5 innings, but Stillman broke the game open with a six-run bottom of the fourth inning.

The visiting Ambassadors capitalized on an error in the top of the second to take a 1-0 lead. Devin Kelly evened the score in the bottom of the second with an RBI single to left. It was a similar story in the third inning, when an error on a single plated Oakwood's second run of the game. Two hit Tiger batters flanked a Sam Fleming double to load the bases with one out to set up a TJ Davis sac fly that tied the game, 2-2, in the bottom of the third.

A two-out, RBI triple by Mateo Hamm once again gave Oakwood the lead, 3-2, and a little momentum. However, an illegal substitution and appeal ended the inning. The Tigers capitalized on the mistake with six runs in the fourth. Kelly delivered a one-out double and scored on a Speakman RBI to tie it, 3-3. Speakman took a 4-3 lead on a wild pitch before Oakwood walked Geoff Grier and hit Fleming to load the bases. Cole Odom's bases-clearing double to left broke the game open, 7-3.  Davis also added an RBI in the inning.

The Tigers added two more runs in the sixth, as Troy Easterling stole third and scored on a wild throw. Josh Wilson then scored on a sac fly from Tre'en Dorsett.
Isaiah Hoskins (1-1) became the pitcher of record in the third inning to earn his first Stillman victory. Xander Kyzar closed the game, striking out seven through three innings for the save.

GAME 2: STILLMAN 9, OAKWOOD 1

A six-run inning proved fruitful for the Tigers once more in the night cap, taking a 6-1 lead in the second inning. The one-out rally began with a walk and hit batter, before Kyzar and Easterling each singled in a run. Speakman picked up an RBI on a routine ground ball to second, but reached base on an error. Two wild pitches later, it was 5-1. Fleming capped the inning with a sac fly to center to score Matt Rivers.

Stillman stretched its lead to 7-1 in the third inning when Sieas Elliot tripled to right center and scored on a Michael Glover RBI ground out. In the bottom of the fourth, Rivers singled in a run and scored on a wild pitch.

The game was called in the middle of the fifth inning due to darkness and declared an official game.

Raymon Vaughn (1-0) recorded the win in relief, pitching three scoreless innings. He allowed four hits, walked one and struck out four. Isidro Rosario started the game and allowed one unearned run off three hits.

NEXT UP

 Stillman (4-1) will remain home during Homecoming Week to open Southern States Athletic Conference play on Friday, Feb. 16 with a noon doubleheader against Faulkner University. Game three of the series is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m. All games will be broadcast on HBCU+.