ALBANY, Ga. -- Miles jumped out to a big lead for the second day in a row, paced by three home runs, and got a strong start from Kody Long in the Golden Bears 12-5 win over top-seed Savannah State Friday afternoon at the SIAC Baseball Championship.

The Golden Bears (25-21), who had just 18 hits when the Tigers swept a three-game series from them last month, tallied 16 hits and added seven walks against five SSU hurlers. The action was steady, with Miles putting runners on base in every inning but the fifth. Everyone in the lineup reached base at least once, seven players had at least two hits and eight guys scored at least once. But it was the strong start against previously undefeated starter Jose Santiago (9-1) that put Savannah State (34-11) in a huge hole.

A two-out infield single by Eli Snelson in the second put Miles on the board, but it was the third inning where the team took control. Jacob Bisharat launched his ninth home run of the season, a long 2-run bomb to left center, to start the onslaught. Max Davenport, who stole five bases in the game and is perfect in 25 attempts this season, knocked in Bryan Baker before coming around on another long home run by Clifton Orr, his sixth of the campaign, for a 6-0 Miles lead.

Savannah State would score twice in the bottom of the third but Miles would get them back in the fourth. James Bitner blasted a two-run shot to left for his second long ball of the tournament and his seventh of the season that gave him a team-high 50 RBI and the Golden Bears an 8-2 lead. The Tigers added a run in the fifth but Miles was in control after six innings when a downpour sent the game into a near two-hour delay.

Long was rolling right along at the point but head coach Ty Roberts had to decide if he wanted the SIAC Pitcher of the Year back on the bump after the delay. The senior left hander would, in fact, head back on the hill and tossed two more frames, scattering 10 singles and allowing five walks and four runs (three earned) while striking out four over eight innings to earn his 10th win of the year. The Golden Bears would get some insurance after the break with two-run singles from Will Cantey and Peyton Caron to close out the scoring for Miles. Drew Shackleford would pitch the ninth to close out the victory.

The fourth-seeded Golden Bears will play No. 2-seed Spring Hill Saturday at 1 p.m., with the winner earning a spot in Sunday's championship round.