Kentucky State University baseball dropped the third and final game of a three-game series against Spring Hill College, 15-10 on Monday afternoon.
The loss for the Thorobreds (16-30, 10-8) marks the first time this season they have been swept by a conference opponent. Only one more conference series remains left to play before the SIAC tournament in Augusta, Georgia, and it will be against Albany State University on Apr. 29 and 30 at home.
Sophomore right fielder Jay Poullard got the Thorobreds going in the first inning, driving in a run on a fielder’s choice for a 1-0 lead. SHC answered back with two runs in the top of the second inning, taking a 2-1 advantage.
The lead wouldn’t last long as junior centerfielder Elijah Collins knocked in senior second baseman Brandon Kelley off a single to center field in the bottom of the second, tying the game up at 2-2. Poullard kept up his production, driving in junior catcher Greg Alexander with a RBI single in the third to regain the lead for KSU at 3-2.
KSU added to the lead off a miscue by the Badgers’ defense as Kelley reached base, off a two RBI error by SHC in the fourth.
With the game in favor of KSU at 5-3, sophomore second baseman Russell Sims played add on as he singled in Poullard in the seventh. Sophomore first baseman Cameron Starks plated a run, scoring off a passed ball, as KSU continued to set the pace at 7-3.
SHC kept fighting back, pulling within one at 7-6, but elusive pitching by sophomore starting pitcher Joe Crisp kept the Badgers in check. On the afternoon the Thorobreds’ defense rolled up four double plays, including two to get them out of bases loaded jams in the later innings, maintaining a lead.
In the eighth, freshman left fielder Cameron Hughes drove in three runs off a bases loaded double to left field, tacking on to the KSU advantage at 10-6.
SHC followed up with four runs in the ninth inning as Crisp and freshman Matthew Oxford tried to close out the game. Oxford followed up the 10th and 11th innings with scoreless frames but was saddled with the loss, giving up a run in the 12th after being taken out and replaced by junior Chae Butler. SHC tacked on five runs in the 12th for a final score of 15-10.
Senior third baseman Brandon Story, along with Starks and Sims finished the afternoon with multi-hit games. For Story, it’s his 21st multi-hit game of the season.
The Thorobreds will take on Asbury University on Wednesday at Whitaker Bank Ballpark in Lexington, Kentucky; first pitch is slated for 6 pm ET. The occasion will mark the fifth straight season KSU has been hosted by the Lexington Legends, the Class A Affiliate of Kansas City Royals.
by Eric Mathews
