Dragons sweep visiting Tougalloo
Josh Lemons
JACKSON, Tenn. (April 17, 2018) - The Lane College baseball team apparently has an affinity for dramatics lately and they proved just that Tuesday at Lane Field, picking up back-to-back wins over visiting Tougalloo College, both in comeback fashion.
Game 1
Tougalloo 4, Lane 5
Leading 3-2 heading into the sixth inning, Lane College gave up a lead-off walk followed by two-run home run to give the Bulldogs a one run lead. The Dragons after holding Tougalloo in the top of the seventh,
Tavariz Brown led off with a single to right field and advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch before coming around to tie the game off a
DeShawn Cole RBI single to center field.
Two batters later, Cole came across the plate thanks to a walk-off single from
Melvin Crayton to give the Dragons the 5-4 win in Game 1 of the doubleheader.
Justin Foulks picked up his first win of the season in relief, pitching 1.1 innings. Foulks gave up no runs off one hit in the win.
Head coach John Bates said he was impressed with the fight in his squad, even after falling behind in both games.
"Despite the errors we made in the first game, we were able to fight back," Bates said. "That's what I've been trying to get these guys to do all year.
"They've been doing that late in this year and I appreciate all of the hard work they are doing."
Game 2
Tougalloo 2, Lane 4
Neither team could get on the scoreboard in the early innings. It wasn't until the top of the fourth when Tougalloo took a 2-0 lead.
Treviz Brown cut the lead in half in the bottom of the frame with a solo shot to center field. The score remained 2-1 until the bottom of the six when
Chris O'Neal ripped a double down the third base line that scored
Treviz Brown from second. Just like his twin brother in Game 1,
Treviz Brown led off the inning with a single and advanced on a wild pitch before scoring two batters later on O'Neal's double. The Dragons got a little insurance when Keishawn Clark hit a two-out, two RBI home run over the wall in center to bring in O'Neal and give Lane a 4-2 lead, heading into the top of the seventh.
That was all the cushion pitcher
Alexis Enriquez needed as he picked up his first win, also in relief, of the season. Enriquez went 2.0 innings, gave up no runs off two hits, struck out one and walked none.
"I was really proud of how they jumped on them (Tougalloo) and were able to contain them," Bates said. "Both relief pitchers were able to come in and get the wins and we were able to get runs for them with our offensive attack."
The Dragons are back in action Friday when they host SIAC opponent Tuskegee University for the first of a crucial three-game series at Hub City Field. Bates said the wins over Tougalloo were a great way for the guys to build up some confidence taking on the Maroon Tigers.
"This is something to build on," Bates said. "We've only got a few days before we play Tuskegee so this was something that we needed.
"These two wins right here will really help us get through the weekend because these are must wins against Tuskegee."
First pitch Friday is scheduled for 1 p.m. CST.
