TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (February 8, 2018) – Tallahassee Community College played its 2018 home opener on Thursday and swept a doubleheader from Abraham Baldwin (Ga.) Agricultural College by the scores of 5-4 and 10-3.
Tallahassee picked up its first wins of the season after going 0-5 at the JUCO Kickoff Classic in Clearwater, Fla., on January 26 and 27. ABAC, who dropped all four of its games in Clearwater two weeks ago is now 1-7 on the season.
In game one, Samantha Malik's walk-off homer – her second of the game – won it for the host Eagles immediately after ABAC tied the game in top of the seventh.
Malik led off the bottom of the second with a solo homer, tying the game at 1-1 and igniting a four-run inning.
Olivia Russell followed Malik's home run with a double to deep left-center and later scored on Ismay Poot's single. With two outs, Jaycee Thomas beat out an infield single and first baseman Kelsey Steller mishandled the throw, allowing Lily Adams to score from third while and Poot raced home from second.
Sidney Mathis (1-2) went the distance in the circle for Tallahassee, scattering nine hits and two walks over seven innings of work.
The Fillies chipped away at Tallahassee's lead, scoring a run in the third and fifth before tying the game in their final at-bat.
The game seemed destined for extra innings after the Eagles' first two batters were retired in order in the seventh, but Malik jerked one down the left field line off ABAC game one starter Samantha Davis.
Tallahassee collected 12 more hits in the nightcap, scoring a 10-3 victory.
Shaquoya Williams overcame a shaky start to pitch a complete game, allowing only three runs – all in the fifth – and six hits.
ABAC's three-run fifth tied the game, but Tallahassee had a quick answer.
The Eagles batted around in the fifth and used a mix of three hits and three walks to do its damage.
Poot drew a bases-loaded walk, plating Malik with the go-ahead run, and Kacie Dobyanski doubled home two runs. Tallahassee added two more runs and led 8-3 after the inning.
Olivia Russell led the Eagles' offensive attack, going 3-for-4.
Williams (1-0) walked the first two batters she faced but only walked one the rest of way.
Tallahassee is scheduled to travel to Dothan, Ala., on Saturday for the Visit Dothan Invitational.
