Box Score OZARK, Ala. – The Kentucky State baseball team kept its hopes of an SIAC Championship alive by holding off a furious late-inning rally to hold on for the 12-11 win over the Paine College Lions Friday, April 25, at the historic Eagle Stadium.
 
Kyle Clark (3-for-5, 2 RBI) and senior Mike Swayne (2-for-4, 2 RBI) led the way for the Thorobreds who move to 16-36 overall with their second win at the SIAC Championship. Paine, eliminated after their second loss of the tournament, ends their season at 14-27.
 
Kentucky State quickly jumped in front of Paine, building a seemingly comfortable 7-0 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth inning. The Lions, who mustered just two hits and no runs through five innings, came alive offensively in the final fours innings, stringing together eight hits for 11 runs.
 
After the Lions put three runs on the scoreboard in the sixth and two in the seventh, Paine trailed Kentucky State by just two at 7-5.
 
The Thorobreds regrouped in the top of the eighth inning, scoring five runs to push their lead to 12-5. With the bases loaded Clark hit a single that brought home Darius Hughes. The next batter, Alexander Davie, proceeded to smash a 3-RBI double into the right centerfield gap to give the Thorobreds some insurance runs.
 
It turned out that KSU needed all of those runs. Paine, the home team on the scoreboard, scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth and went into the bottom of the ninth and final inning trailing 12-9.
 
Lion centerfielder Joseph Graves led off for the Lions and reached safely on an error by KSU shortstop Austin Railey. The Thorobreds struggled defensively all day, committing six errors as a unit in Thursday's game.
 
With just one out, Paine loaded the bases before KSU relief pitcher Josh Dunn walked two straight batters, cutting the Thorobreds lead to just one, 12-11. Kentucky State Head Coach Rob Henry decided to stick with Dunn and it paid off as the next Paine batter grounded into a double play to end the contest.
 
The Thorobreds connected on 16 hits as a team against Paine, the second most in a single game this season. Six KSU starters recorded two or more hits in the game and eight recorded at least one.
 
Kentucky State starter Josh O'Reel (2-3) earned the win for the Thorobreds after 7.1 innings on the mound. O'Reel, who is primarily the third baseman for KSU, allowed 10 hits and six earned runs while striking out two and walking three.
 
PC starter Brandon Jackson (2-4) allowed 11 hits and seven earned runs in 4.1 innings of work. Summers struck out three and walked one.
 
NEXT UP
Kentucky State moves on to face Albany State tonight at 6 p.m.  The Golden Rams beat Miles College in the 12 p.m. game today to set-up a rematch with KSU. The two teams faced off in their first game of the tournament where Kentucky State handed ASU their first loss to an SIAC team this season. The winner will move on to face the loser of the Stillman/Tuskegee game tomorrow afternoon with the chance to advance to the championship game.