Claflin U. Baseball Takes Two from In-State Rival Benedict

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina  -- The Claflin University Panthers took the first two games of a three-game Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) series from in-state rival Benedict College, sweeping a doubleheader, 4-2 and 6-4 Saturday at Historic Mirmow Field.  The two teams will close out the series Sunday at Historic Mirmow Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.

With the win, Claflin, who has won their eighth straight conference game, secured its fourth straight SIAC series.  With the wins, the Panthers improved to 14-19 overall 10-1 in the East Division of the SIAC.  Benedict drops to 12-14 overall and 5-4 in conference play.

In Game One, Jesse minter had a RBI single to score Johnny Stevenson in the bottom of the third to give Claflin the early lead.  Benedict tied the game in the top of the fourth off a RBI fielder's choice by Andre Collum to drive in Shomarii Thomas and tie the game at 1-all.  Rashad Bivens hit a three-run inside the park homerun in the bottom of the six to break the 1-1 tie and give the Panthers the 4-1 advantage. The Tigers, who had bases loaded with one out in the top of the seventh, managed to only place one run on the board en route to the two-run Game One loss.

Sixto Guerrero had two hits and Stevenson and Jesse Minter each had one run in the win.

Justin Vreeland pitched six strong innings in picking up his third win in six decisions. He allowed two runs on eight hits and two walks.  Anthony Ford, who replaced Vreeland with bases loaded, picked up the save.

Kevin Davis had three hits to lead Benedict in Game One.  Andrew McCoy added two hits and an RBI while Robert Troiano took the loss for the Tigers.

Benedict got on the board first in Game Two, scoring one run in the top of the first.  The Panther scored three of their six runs in the bottom of the third.  After Minter reached base via walk, Rashad Hilton tripled to bring Minter in the bottom of the third for the Panthers first run of the game. In the same inning,Reginald Rogers reached base via walk and stole second, which gave Claflin runners on second and third with one out.  A wild pitch allowed Hilton to score and advanced Rogers to third. Rogers scored on a squeeze by Jabari Brown to give the Panthers 3-1 advantage by the bottom of the third.   Benedict scored one run in the top of the fourth, but Claflin picked up two runs in its half the fourth to push its lead to 5-2.  Both teams added runs in the fifth and Benedict scored the game's last run in the sixth en route to falling 6-4.

Darius Boykins pitched his seventh complete game in picking up the win for Claflin.  Boykins, who increase his record to 5-2, gave up four runs on 10 hits and a walk. He threw 114 pitches and fanned three batters in going the distance.

 Davis went 2-3 with two runs to lead Benedict offensively in Game Two.  Devon Leon suffered the loss for Tigers.

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