TIFTON – A first-ever win as an NAIA team, a win over a conference rival, and finishing the season-opening weekend with a winning record. All in all, it was an impressive start to ABAC's baseball season.
Hosting Tennessee's Johnson University and Southern States Athletic Conference rival Point University for a five-game weekend, ABAC won two of three games in head coach
Blake Williams's debut with the Stallions.
In the weekend's final game, the Stallions trailed 3-2 against Johnson before a four-run fifth propelled them to a 7-3 win. It was Johnson's first loss in four games in Tifton. On Saturday, ABAC opened with a 3-0 loss to Johnson before topping Point 4-1 Saturday night.
In the finale,
Joseph Cooney's two-run blast gave ABAC a 3-2 lead in the third inning, lasting until Johnson tied it with a solo run in the top of the fifth. In the bottom of the inning, the Stallions erupted. ABAC loaded the bases with no outs before
Austin Fisher greeted reliever Brandon Bell with a single to right to drive in a run. Later,
Cameron Campbell crossed home after a Royal error and pinch-hitter
Brayden Fordham ripped a single to left to drive in Fisher. Another run scored on fielder's choice and when the damage was done, ABAC led 7-3.
Although starter
Reigh Jordan pitched well in his first Stallion start, it was reliever Tre'Von Lee that got the win after the ABAC rally. First baseman
Cristofer Walley had two hits and drove in a run while shortstop Quentin Rawls scored twice and made several outstanding plays in the field.
Ironically, it was also a four-run fifth last Friday night that provided ABAC's first win of the season. ABAC's
Kade Haywood and Point's Joshua Castillo were both pitching gems through four scoreless innings. In the bottom of the fifth, the Stallions plated four runs, courtesy of a solo home run from sophomore catcher
Russell Clifton and a three-run blast from Walley. That was all Haywood needed as he went the distance for his first ABAC win, allowing three hits and no earned runs with four strikeouts.
Though the game was not an official SSAC contest, it does give the Stallions some measure of league competition. In the conference's preseason baseball poll, Point was selected to finish fourth out of 11 teams while ABAC, the only new team in the league, was picked to finish last.
The Stallions will host Spartanburg Methodist for a three-game series this weekend – a single game Friday at 3 p.m. followed by a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
