Baseball Splits Season Opening Doubleheader At Tuskegee

TUSKEGEE, Ala. – The Rust College baseball program was only three outs from a game two shutout and doubleheader road sweep of NCAA Division II's Tuskegee University, but a five-run fifth inning followed by the contest being called due to darkness after six saw the Bearcats settle for a split.

Over the final three innings of its victory in the opener and first frame in game two, the Baseball Bearcats held the Golden Tigers off the scoreboard while pushing across seven of their own.

Malik Berrien and Devin Tallington were the stars of the show in the win as Berrien brought in three of the team's four RBIs and two of its three doubles while Tallington provided the others. The former drew a walk and the latter scored with one of the club's four hits as well as stealing second in the nightcap.

Jesse Burton III was an on-base machine out of the leadoff spot, batting .600 with three hits, two walks, a pair of runs scored, swiped a base in each game, and roped the second tilt's lone extra-base hit (double) for RC.

Xavier Campbell was magnificent in relief to pick up the squad's first W of the campaign, tossing three scoreless innings of two-hit ball and punching out one to close out Tuskegee.

Brytan Sampson pitched well enough for the win on Saturday and was incorrectly given the loss by the TU scorebook, pitching four of five innings while averaging more than a strikeout per frame (5), allowing just two runs and two hits.

The duo of Stone Teague and Victor Clay each coaxed multiple bases on balls in game one with Teague also stealing a bag.

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