MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Powered by home runs from senior right fielder
Tanner Russell, redshirt-sophomore designated hitter
Hayden Friesen and junior left fielder
Brandon Baynes, the Auburn Montgomery baseball team defeated visiting Tuskegee University 10-8 to complete the two-game weekend series sweep.
NOTES
• AUM improves to 6-2.
• Tuskegee drops to 1-9.
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
• Russell went 2-4 with three RBI.
• Frisen went 1-3 with two RBI and a walk.
• Junior second baseman
Jonathan Brandt went 2-4 with a RBI and run scored.
• After allowing five runs in the opening inning, senior righty
Garrett Deloney logged another 4.2 innings, giving him 5.2 total in the winning effort.
• Senior
Nathan Langley came in and tossed the final two innings, striking out three while allowing no runs or hits for the save.
• For Tuskegee, Ryan Green, Matthew Reed and Lajerrius Haralson all posted two hits while Christian Marshall tossed a team-high 4.0 innings of relief with five strikeouts while allowing one run off three hits.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• After loading the bases to start the game off a single, fielding error by AUM and walk, Tuskegee took the lead in the top of the first off a no-out single from Tyari Albright to left field. The Golden Tigers added to the lead on a one-out single from Reed two batters later to score two runs, while a single from Haralson with two outs and runners on second and third made it 5-0.
• AUM cut into the deficit in the bottom of the first, leading off with a walk by Langley and sending him home two batters later off a sacrifice fly by Brandt. The Warhawks loaded the bases with two singles and a hit by pitch, making it 5-2 off the second-straight hit by pitch, scoring sophomore catcher
Kyle Khoury.
• After getting through the top of the second without allowing a runner to reach base, AUM got Langley and Khoury on first and second with one out off back-to-back walks. Brandt advanced both runners off a single, with a TU throwing error giving Langley an opportunity to score, while a three-run home run by Russell gave AUM a 6-5 lead. Three batters later, AUM got its second homer of the inning as Friesen sent one to left field to score himself and junior third baseman
Logan Nix, who reached base on a TU throwing error, to create an 8-5 lead.
• AUM added an insurance run in the fifth, as Baynes led off the stanza with a home run to make it 9-5.
• Leading off the sixth with a single and double on back-to-back at bats, Tuskegee clawed into the lead on a fielder's choice to plate Keldric Burton. The Golden Tigers scored two more runs off a one-out single, sending Ronald Mcghee and Reed home to make it a one-run game at 9-8.
• In their final at bat, the Warhawks added a run to the lead after senior first baseman
Curtiss Johnson drew a walk with the bases loaded, scoring junior right fielder
Aaron Hill and making it 10-8.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• Both sides tallied nine hits. AUM recorded three home runs while Tuskegee had a pair of doubles.
• The Warhawks left 12 runners on base versus three for the Golden Tigers.
• Both sides recorded three errors.
UP NEXT
AUM travels to Albany, Ga., for a midweek tilt against Albany State on Thursday, Feb. 22. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.
For the latest on AUM athletics, find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
