Baseball Salvages GCAC Opening Series Finale At Talladega

TALLADEGA, Ala. – The Rust College baseball program started off its second season in the Gulf Coast Conference on a difficult note by dropping its first two contests at Talladega, but was able to bounce back and avoid the sweep on Sunday with an 11-9 triumph.

It was just the second time that the Baseball Bearcats have ever defeated the Tornadoes in its past 29 tries.

The Basics:

• Score (Game 1 – 7 Innings)
• • Talladega – 30
  • Rust – 3
    

• Score (Game 2 – 7 Innings)
• • Talladega – 12
  • Rust – 2

• Score (Game 3)
• • Rust – 11
  • Talladega – 9

• Records
• • Rust (2-14, 1-2 Gulf Coast)
  • Talladega (6-9, 2-1 Gulf Coast)

• Location
• • Talladega, Alabama – Silsby Field

• Series History (Since 2009)
• • Talladega Leads 26-2-1 (8.6%)

• Winning Streak (Since 2009)
• • Rust (W1) | Talladega's Last Win: February 24, 2024 (12-2 – 7 Innings)

Rust Top Performers:

• Malik Berrien was the leader in the clubhouse for batting average as he went 3-for-6 (.500) plus a team-high two steals and two runs scored.

• The top run producer was Rashid Muhammad who drove in three runners to go along with the most patient as he walked thrice as well, batting .400 (4-of-10) and crushing a two-bagger.

• The dynamic duo of Jalik Demar and Matthew LeBlanc also smacked four hits apiece while hitting .364 and .308, respectively. Demar was the lone student-athlete with multiple extra-base knocks (2 doubles) while LeBlanc had one (double), both scoring one run apiece.

• Xavier Campbell pitched well enough to win game three despite a no decision, tossing four frames while surrendering two earned runs (three total) and striking out five.

• Brytan Sampson did pick up the victory out of the bullpen and Devin Tallington notched the save, coming on with one out in a bases loaded situation during the bottom of the ninth to hammer home win number two.
  

Next:

• With Tuesday's game at Lane College cancelled, the Blue and White will turn their attention to a road trip to Laurel where they will play the Southeastern Baptist Chargers for a doubleheader.

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