Southern Captures Baseball Title In 15 Inning Marathon

May 23, 2005

Southern University rose out of the loser’s bracket to capture the 2005 SWAC Baseball Championship defeating Prairie View A&M 6-5 in fifteen innings. Southern Pitcher Josuha Kirk was named the tournament’s MVP.

Entering Sunday’s final day of the tournament, Prairie View A&M was in charge with an undefeated 3-0, coming out of the winner’s bracket. Southern, the top seed from the West division, had lost their first round game to the Panthers 16-13.

In the first championship game, SU pitcher Josua Kirk pitched 9 shut-out innings to help the Jaguars cruise to an easy 6-0 win forcing a second game. That game began at 5:25p seemed to be in the bag early for Southern as they jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning and 4-0 after five innings and 5-3 entering the 9 th inning. But the Panthers of Prairie View A&M battled back to tie the score at 5-5 on a 2-run homerun by centerfielder Marcus Crocket in the top of the 9 th inning.

In extra innings neither team could push a run across the plate. In the bottom of the 15 th inning Southern catcher Brandon Mason led off with a triple to left field. Several moments later, several volley’s of rapid gunshots were heard from the community surrounding the Stadium and the field was cleared. The game was suspended for the safety of the players and fans and was resumed Monday morning (5/23) at 8:00a from that point. After the resumption of play, a pair of intentional walks followed by a base on balls by the PVAM led to the 6-5 win for Southern. The game officially ended at 8:10a.

2005 SWAC All-Tournament Team
P – Jose Pena – Southern
P – Josua Kirk – Southern
P – Wraandal Taylor – Prairie View A&M
1B – Kevin Nelson – Southern
2B – Paul Johnson – Prairie View A&M
3B – David Arrendo – Texas Southern
SS – Zach Prenprase – Miss. Valley State
C – Brandon Mason _ Southern
OF – Anton Shinhoster – Jackson State
OF – Marcus Crockett – Prairie View A&M
OF – Gerrad Gause – Southern
DH – J.D. Stewart – Texas Southern

Most Outstanding Hitter – Kevin Nelson – Southern

Most Outstanding Pitcher – Jose Pena – Southern