ALBANY, Ga – Kentucky State baseball gets 18 hits in a 10-6 victory over the Miles College Golden Bears in the 2023 SIAC Baseball Championship opening game in Albany, Georgia.
"Tonight was really fun because we played well in. all three phases of the game. We came out early and swung the bats really well to score three runs in the top of the first." Coach Henry said following the 18-hit win. Three Thorobreds led the contest with three hits each
Tre Brown,
Joseph Esparza, and
Collier Higgs.
Eric Turner led the Thorobreds, earning the win, pitching for seven innings, and earning ten strikeouts.
"
Eric Turner gave up in the first two innings, then pitched really well after that. We played some really good defense behind him. We had a couple of errors, and we played through them. It was a really strong team approach tonight, we were resilient and hard-nosed, and the things that we talked about wanting to do as a program, it was a lot of fun seeing all three phases coming together and beating a good program. " Coach Henry said following the victory.
Before the first pitch, Esparza was awarded for being named SIAC Baseball Player of the Year and SIAC First Team. Higgs also received his Elite 14 award for leading the conference with a 4.0 GPA.
How It Happened
Joseph Esparza singled up the middle to advance
Daniel Moore to third and send home
Tre Brown.
Collier Higgs followed with a double down the right-field line to send in more and add another run.
Treyvon Fletcher singled to center field to send in Higgs for the third inning run. Miles scored three runs on a pair of doubles to tie the game 3-3 and the end of one.
In the second inning, the Golden Bears scored two runs to take a 5-3 lead.
Higgs added one on a sacrifice fly deep into right field by
John Hidgon.
Both T. Brown and Moore advanced on a passed ball followed by a single into right field by Esparza, sending both runs in. Higgs singled into right field to send Esparza home and give the Thorobreds a 7-5 lead at the top of the fourth.
Saylor scored on a single into left field by Higgs to add one. Followed by a single from Fletcher sent Moore in to give the Thorobreds a 9-5 lead at the top of the fifth.
Cedric Poellnitz scored on a wild pitch to add one run for the Thorobreds at the top of the sixth inning. Miles added one in the bottom to close on a 10-6 Kentucky State lead.
Kentucky State allowed no runs in the final three innings to win the game 10-6.
As a team, the Thorobreds led the contest with 18 hits, led by three hits from each T. Brown, Esparza, and Higgs.
Up Next
Kentucky State will continue its championship run tomorrow, May 5, against host Albany State; the first pitch is set for 2 p.m.
