By Alan Wiederhold
HT Athletic Communications

NORTHPORT, Ala. – Huston-Tillotson University's baseball team opened their trek through the Hope Credit Union HBCU Athletic Conference Championship tournament Saturday with a 9-2 win over Voorhees (S.C.).

Ryan Rodriguez pitched six strong innings for the Rams to earn the victory, while Evan Mendoza tossed the final three innings to earn his conference-leading sixth save.

The Rams (31-16) scored the final seven runs of the game, starting with a five-run fifth that shifted momentum in the game. HT's lineup was held to one hit through the first four innings.

Danny Hernandez's single through the right side of the infield scored Trey Garza from third base and tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth. Hernandez' single was third of six in the inning. Two batters later, Josh Wilk's infield hit scored Noah Alvarez with the go-ahead, game-winning run.

Garza was one of four HT players with two hits in the game, along with teammates Tucker Allen, Jaden Corzine, and Kadarien Harris. Allen collected HT's only extra-base hit in the game, a triple to right-centerfield in the bottom of the seventh inning. Harris had a two-RBI single to cap HT's fifth innings he also walked twice in the game.

The Rams continue play in the double-elimination tournament Sunday, beginning with a 10 a.m. matchup against Stillman (Ala.), the No. 2-seeded team from the conference's East Division.

Regardless of their outcome with Stillman, the Rams will play a second game Sunday afternoon. A win over Stillman will keep the Rams in the winner's bracket, where they will face the winner of Talladega (Ala.) and Wilberforce (Ohio) at 5 p.m.

Should Stillman prevail Sunday morning, the Rams will the winner of the game between Louisiana rivals Dillard and Southern–New Orleans at 1:30 p.m.

All games are being contested at River Run Park in Northport, Ala., with most games being streamed to the Urban Edge Network.

– HT –