Edward Waters University has had a successful first year as a full member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
And that good string continued for the Tigers Tuesday as baseball coach Reginald Johnson II picked up career win No. 300 in an 8-4 victory over Voorhees University in the first game of a doubleheader.
#EWUBSB takes Game One over@VoorheesBSB
today. With the victory, Head Coach Reginald Johnson II has won his 300th career contest as head coach! Game Two from Denmark, S. C. is up next! #CongratsCoachJohnson! #300WinClub! #TigerPride!📷📷 pic.twitter.com/acYdvZmxdR— Edward Waters Athletics (@EWU_Athletics) April 11, 2023
Johnson, a native of Jacksonville, has served as coach at EWU since 2012, compiling a record of 231-191-1 coming into the 2023 season. Prior to SIAC competition, Johnson’s Tigers were among the best in the NAIA’s Gulf Coast Athletic Conference, winning the 2015 conference championship during a string of four consecutive 30-win seasons. Following the 2015 season, BlackCollegeNines.com named Johnson the Small College Coach of the Year.
Johnson had previously played at Edward Waters and Bethune-Cookman before finishing his career and studies at Florida Gulf Coast and embarking on his coaching career.
In Tuesday’s battle of the Tigers, EWU (15-17, 9-12 SIAC) jumped out to a 3-0 first-inning lead thanks to RBI from catcher Anthony Roman, third baseman Hugo Schoening and designated hitter Leonel Diaz.
Voorhees battled back to take a 4-3 lead after three innings, but Diaz socked a homer in the fourth to tie it, then right fielder Dwanye Maduro singled home second baseman John Nobles to give Edward Waters the lead for good.
EWU added three more runs in the top of the seventh as a pass ball allowed Maduro to score and a two-run double from left fielder Daquarius Thompkins scored Leonel Garcia and Ferante Cowart.
Carson Hurst pitched the first three innings and got the win, while relievers Gerald Perret and Darius Blasingane combined for four innings of shut-out ball, allowing no hits and just one walk.
