Albany State Golden Rams Crowned SIAC Baseball Champions

ALBANY, Georgia -- The Albany State University Golden Rams left little doubt from the first pitch of Sunday's SIAC Baseball Championship.

The Golden Rams opened the first inning with a 12-0 scoring outburst and coasted to a 19-2 victory to claim the 2018 SIAC Baseball Championship in a shortened seven innings. This represents the Rams' tenth conference title in school history, their first since 2015.

Tyler Wilcher went the distance in the championship game, striking out six while allowing two earned runs. With the game all but decided, the Thorobreds narrowly avoided a shutout with runs in the bottom of the sixth courtesy of a 2RBI single from Cameron Starks.

Nic Griggs finished the afternoon a home run short of hitting for the cycle and Tyler Morris was the named the tournament's most valuable player. Michael Reddick, Trey McMillan and Riliani Familia were also tabbed for the 2018 All-Tournament Team.

The Thorobreds expended three on their pitching staff in the top of the first to try and slow ASU's early momentum. KSU trailed by only one (1-0), but three consecutive bases loaded walks gave ASU a 4-0 lead and prompted the Thorobred's first pitching change of the inning. With the bases loaded, KSU's Eric Anderson hit the first batter he faced Chasen Roulhac, granting him first base and moving the score to 5-0.

Kelvin Wimbish then doubled to left center, sending Lawrence Hyde and Kelvin Dodson across home plate and Riliani Familia drove two more in with a single up the middle. Two more doubles scored two more runs for ASU and Kentucky State was forced again to call to the the bullpen this time to send Joe Crisp to the mound. Crisp gave up a single to Tyler Morris and after an RBI SAC bunt from Ryan McClendon, got Dodson to foul out to third base. After Hyde reached on a walk, the inning mercifully came to a close as Roulhac popped up to short.

ASU padded their lead with a five run fifth inning. It began with an RBI triple from Griggs and two batters later, McClendon sent Griggs home with an RBI double to left field. A KSU error led Tyler Morris home and Roulhac's single to right drove in two more for a 17-0 advantage.

BOX SCORE

In their final at bat, Familia plated Hyde with a single to left field and a bases loaded walk from Vashawn Phillips, the Thorobreds fourth pitcher of the day, accounted for the final point spread.

The Golden Rams (28-16) will now await next week's NCAA Division II Playoff pairings as they receive an automatic berth as the conference champions.

ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY GOLDEN RAMS SPORTS INFORMATION