Clay’s Birthday Weekend Heroics Help Bearcats Sweep Tougaloo

HOLLY SPRINGS, Miss. – The Rust College baseball program scored nine runs over the final three innings to take game one then got an early birthday gift from Victor Clay via a walk-off single as his parents celebrated a come-from-behind game two extra-inning victory in the stands.

With the pair of victories, the Baseball Bearcats have surpassed last season's win total of 13 and are back above .500 for the first time in just under two weeks.

Clay finished the afternoon with five RBIs, three hits, three runs scored, a walk plus a stolen base.

James Slaughter IV was an absolute nightmare for Coach Earl Sanders and the Bulldogs, hitting .750 (6-for-8) while driving in six runs, scoring six times, stole six bases, crushed a double and drew a walk.

Khalil Robinson launched a solo shot over the left field fence, lofted a sacrifice fly, went a perfect 3-for-3, roped a double, and crossed home plate twice in a fantastic nightcap of the doubleheader.

Game one starting pitcher Brent Jackson broke even for the season as he is now 2-2 after tossing 5.2 innings in which he gave up just two earned runs with five strikeouts. Brytan Sampson picked up his second save in-a-row as well, closing out the ballgame by allowing only one hit over the final five batters.

Aaron Strickland got a relatively easy victory in the second go-round, needing only two-thirds of an inning to pick up his first win, setup by Demond Dollison's 4.1 quality frames of relief in which he surrendered just a pair of runs that were earned and a trio of Ks.

The regular season concludes on Tuesday afternoon as Seniors Tremaine Callaway, Khalil Robinson, and Allen Williams will be honored prior to the doubleheader versus Crowley's Ridge.

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