PULASKI, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee Southern baseball team hosted Southern States Athletic Conference opponent Middle Georgia State on Friday. The Knights took game one 14-7 and a late UTS charge fell short in game two with a 8-5 loss. UTS moved to 8-14 overall and 2-9 in league play on the year.
GAME ONE: MGSU 14, UTS 7
The Knights scored one in the first to lead 1-0. UTS plated three runs via two hits out of the park. Collin Perkins hit a solo shot, and Coleman Siniard also hit a rocket scoring Brayden Buckner. UTS led 3-1 after one.
MGSU pieced together a big inning in the second, scoring five to retake the lead. They would add five more in the fifth to lead 11-3. The Firehawks scored a pair in the sixth. Gage Beckner scored on a wild pitch. Sebastian Matlock put one in play driving in Mason Billions. UTS trailed 11-5 heading to the final inning.
The Knights scored three in the seventh, adding some space to their lead. Buckner answered for the Firehawks hitting a two-run homer scoring Cody Womble.
Chambers McGillberry (3-2) got the start. He allowed six earned runs on six hits and recorded six strikeouts. Blake Medley allowed two earned runs. Jackson Moon allowed three earned runs. Weston Horton tossed the final three frames allowing four hits and four runs.
GAME TWO: MGSU 8, UTS 5
The Knights again took the early lead scoring three in the first. Siniard singled to left driving in Gattis Henley. UTS trailed 3-1 after one. MGSU added four runs over the next three innings leading 7-1 heading to the UTS fourth.
The Firehawks plated two in their half. Henley singled down the right field line scoring Billions. Perkins hit a sacrifice fly to center scoring Grayson Willis.
The Knights scored one more in the fifth to lead 8-4. Billions singled through the left side scoring Cole Barnett in the eighth.
Barrett Brown (1-4) tossed one inning allowing five earned runs. Jake Stuteville tossed three innings allowing one earned run on five hits. Tavien Tigg hurled the final five innings allowing a lone solo home run. He struck out seven.
NEXT UP
The Firehawks will return to action at Bobby Walker Field on Saturday, March 8, hosting Middle Georgia State for the final game of the weekend SSAC affair. First pitch is set for noon.
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