Morehouse Hands SSU First Loss Of Season

February 26, 2008
SAVANNAH, Ga- Morehouse scored six runs in the sixth inning in a come from behind 6-4 victory over Savannah State at Tiger Field.

Michael Brooks did the damage on the mound, striking out six SSU batters in 5.1 innings, to get the win.

Savannah State did little to help its cause, stranding nine base runners and committing four errors.

The Tigers opening the scoring in the first inning. Brandon Javis reached on a fielder's choice and later scored after Brett Pointer singled and advanced to second on an error by the Maroon Tigers left fielder.

SSU left runners on base in the third and fourth innings but could not score any runs.

In the bottom of the fifth, Javis tripled home Glen Wormley, who earlier singled and stole second.

Morehouse sent nine batters to the plate in the top of the sixth and walked away with six runs on just two hits. They were aided by four SSU errors.

Dunte Artis and Jarvis Askew walked to lead off the inning and Leshawn Lettsome singled to right field which brought home Artis. That led to SSU switching pitchers as Chris Chupp was brought in to relieve starter Robert Jones.

Lettsome stole second and Hank McCladdie doubled down the right field line to drive in a pair of runs. After Chupp walked Michael Young, SSU head coach Carlton Hardy brought in Blaine Kidwell to pitch. McCladdie and Young advanced a base as a result of an error by the Savannah State catcher and the next batter, Jared Mills walked to load the bases. The next batter grounded out but Ralph Woolfolk reached on an error by the third baseman which allowed two unearned runs to score.

In the bottom of the sixth, Savannah State's Brian Johnson reached on an error by the Morehouse third baseman, Tristan Smith was hit by a pitch and David Washington singled to load the bases. Kyle Wilkerson singled to score Johnson. Wormley walked which scored Smith to cut Morehoue's lead to 6-4.

That prompted the Morehouse coach to bring in McCladdie to pitch. The move paid off as the 6-4 sophomore from Augusta struck out the first batter he faced and forced the second to fly out to center field.

SSU had runners on second and third base with no outs in the bottom of the seventh, but the game was called due to rain.

Wormley had two hits and walked twice for SSU (3-1). Jones took the loss after giving up three runs in five innings of work. Jones walked three batters and struck out three.

McCladdie got the save for the Maroon Tigers. He also had two RBI and scored a run. James Steadman, a Savannah native and Morehouse outfielder, had a single.