COLLEGE PARK, Ga. - Clark Atlanta claimed the series victory over Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) rival Benedict College by winning two-of-three games. In the nine-inning series finale,
Jezreel Moore claimed his first win as a pitcher since Mar. 22, 2014 versus Lane College.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:Game 1 Score: Benedict 4, Clark Atlanta 1
Game 2 Score: Clark Atlanta 12, Benedict 10
Game 3 Score: Clark Atlanta 9, Benedict 6
Record: Clark Atlanta (9-30; 5-12 SIAC), Benedict (24-13; 7-8 SIAC)
Date: Apr. 16-17, 2016 | Bill Evans Field | College Park, Ga.
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 1):Benedict jumped out to the early 2-0 lead with a pair of solo homeruns before Clark Atlanta scored a single run in the fifth inning.
Randy Rudulph delivered the RBI-single to left field scoring
Jordan Johnson after Johnson was hit by a pitch to start the inning.
Single runs for Benedict in the sixth and seventh inning capped the scoring.
Ryan Betts (0-8) started on the mound and pitched 5.0 innings giving up just three hits and three runs - two earned - with a pair of strikeouts. Johnson and
Nicolas Mitchell each pitched an innings in relief.
The four Panther hits were shared with one each by
Malcolm Seabrooks,
Arias Smith, Rudulph, and
Ceontae Brandon.
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 2):The second game on Saturday saw Clark Atlanta spot Benedict six runs through three innings before a come-from-behind victory.
In the home third inning, CAU cut the lead in half with three runs. With the bases loaded,
Jason Howell picked up the RBI on a fielder's choice scoring Rudulph.
Michael Haywood, Jr. singled the next at bat scoring Brandon and Howell.
Benedict added a run in the fourth ahead of CAU pulling within one run with three more runs. Johnson scored on a sacrifice fly by Brandon. Betts later scored on a defensive error before Howell singled up the middle scoring
Joseph Holmes II.
Clark Atlanta took the lead in the fifth inning with five runs. Rudulph drove in two on a double to right center, Brandon reach on a bunt scoring Betts, Holmes added two-RBI on a single to left field.
Benedict scored three times in the sixth to trail 11-10. Rudulph added one more run with a sacrifice scoring
Ayrton Gijsbertha for the final run of the game.
Johnson went 3-for-4 and Brandon added two hits as Clark Atlanta received hits from eight starters.
Holmes (2-4) picked up the win in relief as the third-of-four pitchers by throwing 2.0 innings and yielding two hits and three runs - zero earned - and one strikeout. Johnson closed the game with his third save of the season by recording the final four outs.
Rudulph ran his hitting streak to nine games in the effort.
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 3):The series finale saw Clark Atlanta tally 13 hits for back-to-back games with double digit hit totals.
Holmes scored on a single by Gijsbertha in the first inning.
Benedict scored three times in the second before CAU responded with six runs in the home half of the inning. Rudulph and Brandon scored before a grand slam was delivered off the bat of Haywood for his first career homerun.
Haywood picked up his fifth RBI of the game in the seventh with a single to score Howell. The five RBI in a game ties Johnson for a single-game best for Clark Atlanta on the season.
Howell picked up his sixth multi-RBI game of the season as he drove in Brandon in the eighth inning for the last Panther run.
Three late runs by Benedict scored in the ninth inning to make the game close at the end.
Moore (1-12) tallied his first victory since the 2014 season by throwing 8.1 innings allowing six hits and six runs - five earned - with five strikeouts. At one point in the game Moore retired 17 consecutive batters before back-to-back-to-back singles in the ninth inning with one out ended his day.
Johnson registered the final two outs to seal the victory.
Holmes, Howell, and Gijsbertha each had three hits while Haywood had two hits in the game.
THE NUMBERS:Game 1: 1 runs, 4 hits, 4 errors
Game 2: 12 runs, 11 hits, 1 error
Game 3: 9 run, 13 hits, 2 errors
Holmes and Howell are tied for the team-high with 12 multi-hit games.
Rudulph saw his hitting streak end in the final, but has reached base in a season-best 12 straight games.
CAU improves to 5-2 when outhitting the opponent.
UP NEXT:Clark Atlanta hosts Miles on Tue. in a non-conference game before wrapping the season this upcoming weekend with three games versus LeMoyne-Owen.
