HOUSTON – Texas Southern University's baseball team may have shifted into a higher gear at just the right time, as the Tigers defeated Southern 11-1 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference opener for both teams Friday.
Olajide Oloruntimilehin's fourth inning grand slam was one of three home runs the Tigers hit, which proved to be more than enough support for pitcher Seth Oliver, who tossed a complete game.
The win ended a season-opening nine-game slide for the Tigers (1-9, 1-0 SWAC West). The Jaguars fell to 1-6 on the season.
Oliver scattered three hits and walked four batters while striking out five batters. He retired seven consecutive batters between the third and fifth innings. Oliver retired 10 batters via groundouts.
Oloruntimilehin went 2-for-4 with five RBIs, adding an RBI single in the sixth. Blake Hicks and Gaudencio Lucca knocked back-to-back solo home runs in the bottom of the second that erased Southern's early 1-0 lead.
Hicks had two RBIs in the game, hitting a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning. Richard Alamo and Jose Camach also knocked RBIs in the game.
Alamo, Hicks, Lucca and Jimenez all had two base hits in Friday's contest. Alamo also stole two bases.
Southern's Harold Myles absorbed the loss after giving up eight earned runs over four innings of work.
The Tigers and Jaguars return to MacGregor Park on Saturday for the second game of the series. First pitch is scheduled for noon.
Courtesy: TSU Athletics
Olajide Oloruntimilehin's fourth inning grand slam was one of three home runs the Tigers hit, which proved to be more than enough support for pitcher Seth Oliver, who tossed a complete game.
The win ended a season-opening nine-game slide for the Tigers (1-9, 1-0 SWAC West). The Jaguars fell to 1-6 on the season.
Oliver scattered three hits and walked four batters while striking out five batters. He retired seven consecutive batters between the third and fifth innings. Oliver retired 10 batters via groundouts.
Oloruntimilehin went 2-for-4 with five RBIs, adding an RBI single in the sixth. Blake Hicks and Gaudencio Lucca knocked back-to-back solo home runs in the bottom of the second that erased Southern's early 1-0 lead.
Hicks had two RBIs in the game, hitting a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning. Richard Alamo and Jose Camach also knocked RBIs in the game.
Alamo, Hicks, Lucca and Jimenez all had two base hits in Friday's contest. Alamo also stole two bases.
Southern's Harold Myles absorbed the loss after giving up eight earned runs over four innings of work.
The Tigers and Jaguars return to MacGregor Park on Saturday for the second game of the series. First pitch is scheduled for noon.
Courtesy: TSU Athletics