Miles completed its series sweep of Tuskegee with two wins, 9-3 and 4-1, Saturday afternoon at the Pleasant Grove Athletic Complex.
William Donahoo and
Christopher Elias both pitched well to earn wins and
Reeves Brashear had three hits and thumped two solo home runs as the Golden Bears (20-14, 9-0 SIAC West) remained perfect in conference play. It was the team's 12th consecutive win over the Golden Tigers (6-22, 2-7), dating back to 2015.
GAME 1: Miles 9, Tuskegee 3
The Golden Bears took control of this game early as the first seven batters against Tuskegee starter Trey Nelson (1-7) reached base. A leadoff double by Brashear and bunt single by
Ryan Bargery set the table for run-scoring singles from
Xavius Burden and
Jacob Bisharat, who would be caught stealing second. After a walk to
Alex Bentley,
Kolby Brannon followed with a RBI single and
Justin Bisharat scored Bentley with a double. A RBI groundout by
Brandon Conner gave Miles a 5-0 advantage,
Brashear would lead off the second and he hit a rocket out to left for his fourth home run of the season and a 6-0 Miles lead. That was more than enough for Donahoo (5-2), who battled with his control at times (five walks, one hit batter) but still allowed just six hits and two earned runs over six innings while striking out four. Devon Shaw put the Golden Tigers on the board with a run-scoring single in the fifth and Elgin Woodside added a two-run double in the sixth. But Conner and
Trevor Bates added RBI singles in the fifth and the Golden Bears tacked on an unearned run in the sixth for the final margin.
GAME 2: Miles 4, Tuskegee 1
Tuskegee starter Jordyn Thomas (2-4) did his best to keep the Golden Bears offense in check but Elias (4-3) did not need much help, scattering seven hits and striking out seven in a complete game victory.
The Golden Tigers put a couple of guys on base over the first two innings but ran themselves out of potential breakthroughs on the base paths. Miles would make them pay in the second after Thomas walked Bentley and Brannon with one out. As Brannon walked, an ill-advised throw to second trying nab Bentley - who was awarded second base on the walk - went into center field and the Miles left fielder advanced to third. He would score on a single by
Roderick Ransom to put Mile son the board. One out later, Bates would drive home Brannon for a 2-0 advantage.
In the third and fifth innings, Tuskegee would get runner to third but could not get them home.That would allow Miles an opportunity to get a bit more breathing room. Connor led off the fifth with a single and promptly stole second. He would score on a double into the right field corner by Bates, who was thrown out at third on a perfect relay by the Golden Tigers. That play would save them at least one run as Brashear would unleash a moonshot to deep left center for a solo home run - his fifth of the season and third consecutive game with a round-tripper - for a 4-0 lead.
Tuskegee, though, would not fold. The Golden Tigers would score after an error by Burden on a ground ball brought home Dominic Johnson. But with the tying runs coming to plate and one out, Elias held strong, striking out Jalen Luter and Lane Williams to end the threat. Elias would then strikeout Shaw and Johnson with a runner on in the seventh to end the game.
UP NEXT: Miles travels to take on West Georgia on Apr. 3. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.