Columbia, SC- The script could not have been written any better. For the second consecutive year the SIAC East Division Title would be decided on the last weekend of the regular season, as rivals Benedict College (20-14) and Claflin University (22-16) squared off. Last season the games took place in Orangeburg, SC at Historic Mirmow Field, with Benedict taking the East regular season crown.
This year the battle took place at new Tiger Field on the Benedict College campus. Needing two wins over the Tigers the Panthers would win the Division outright. Claflin knew this was their opportunity to capture their first SIAC East Division Title since becoming a member of the NCAA II in 2008. The Panthers took advantage and left nothing to chance by sweeping the Tigers in the Saturday afternoon doubleheader 4-3, and 11-8. Coach James Randall said, “This is the reward for hard work and dedication. It feels great to win our first division title, here at Claflin University. I am extremely proud of the players on this team who set the goals and sacrificed their personal time and efforts to get to this point. It was difficult to watch Benedict celebrate winning the division on our field last year, and I know we had that vision in the back of our minds since then. I can't say enough about our seniors who kept us focused helped each player to believe in each other, I think that helped us to be as successful as we were. We will now come out and continue to play fundamental baseball as we head into next weeks SIAC Championships with momentum.”
Game #1 was a close contest as both teams started their “Ace” pitcher, which was an indication of how important the first game of this three game series was. Benedict started John Walton, who went 6.2 innings giving p four runs and eight hits. While Claflin handed the ball to
Darryl White who pitched a complete game giving up three runs, and eleven hits.
Benedict was led at the plate by David Weber 3-4, Robert Jones 2-3 with teo runs batted in, Andra Collum 2-4 with a run scored, and Lydell Moseby 2-4.
Corey Huck led the Panthers going 1-3 with two runs batted in,
Jasper Brown 2-3 with two runs scored,
Edward Randolph 2-3,
Travis Griffin 2-3, and
Chauncey Davis 1-4 with a run scored.
In
game #2 Shawn Polk was credited with the win, and
Vicente Ochoa came in relief for the save for the Panthers. Luis Cotto was tagged with the loss for Benedict. Andra Collum led Benedict 2-2 with two runs batted in, and Loman Lewis 1-3 with two runs batted in.
Senior
Chauncey Davis spearheaded Claflin's offensive attack going 3-4 with three runs scored and two runs batted in, Senior Juluis McDougal 1-3 with two runs scored, three runs batted in, including a home run,
Jasper Brown 1-3 with a home run, and four runs batted in, and Corey Huck 1-4 with a run scored and a run batted in.
The Panthers will travel to Ozark, AL as the #1 seed in the east for the SIAC Baseball Championships beginning Thursday. Brackets and parings for the championships will be released at a later date.
