Tigers Sweep North Carolina Central

February 24, 2008
SAVANNAH, Ga- Savannah State improved to 3-0 with a doubleheader sweep of North Carolina Central during the HBCU Classic played at Tiger Field.

SSU pounded the Eagles 17-3 in game one and won game two 6-4 when umpires called the game in the sixth inning due to darkness.

In game one, Robert Ramsdale pitched 6.2 innings, giving up four hits a three runs to get the win. At the plate, Kyle Wilkerson, Brandon Javis, Alfred Arnold and Matt Nowacki all hit home runs for SSU. Wilkerson hit a two run homer in the fourth, Javis blasted a grand slam in the sixth, Arnold hit a two run homer in the fifth and Nowacki hit a three-run homer in the second. Santos Adames went 3-for-3 with two doubles.

The Tigers scored three times in the second inning, twice in the third, four times in the fourth, three times in the fifth and five times in the sixth to grab a 17-0 lead. NCCU, who made six errors, scored their only runs in the top of the seventh when Marcus Fuller hit a three run homer. Brandon Oatis, who gave up nine runs in 3.2 innings, took the loss for NCCU.

In the nightcap, the Tigers stranded eight base runners but prevailed to get the win.

The Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the first inning and scored another in the top of the third for a 2-0 advantage. In the bottom of the third, Wilkerson homered over the right field fence to slice SSU's deficit to 2-1.

SSU scored twice in the bottom of the fourth. Adames reached on an error and advanced to second. Nowacki tripled which scored Adames. After Dexter Kelley grounded out and B pointer walked, Wilkerson hit a sacrifice fly to center field which scored Nowacki.

In the top of the fifth, the Eagles got two runs back when B Grant led off with a home run and Justin Goodson scored on a wild pitch to give NCCU a 4-3 lead. The bottom of the inning saw Arnold singled home Javis who led off the inning with a double to tie the game at four.

North Carolina Central could not produce any offense in the top of the sixth. Savannah State rallied in their half of the inning to score what would turn out to be the game's winning runs.

David Washington walked and Javis stepped to the plate and homered over the left field fence for a 6-4 lead and the win.

Javis and Arnold had two hits each for the Tigers. Javis scored twice and Javis along with Wilkerson drove in two runs each. Chris Chupp got the win after coming in to pitch1.2 innings in relief of starter Michael O'Neil. Chupp struck out two of the five batters he faced.

David Scott took the loss for NCCU, giving up three runs in just 1.1 innings pitched.