>>>boxscore
AIKEN, S.C. - A two-run double
off the bat of Brooks Robinson
(Evans, Ga.) put the No. 6 Georgia College & State
University baseball team (19-6, 8-2 PBC) ahead of USC Aiken (15-13,
3-7 PBC) for good in tonight's (March 20) 12-10 shootout.
The Bobcats used a monumental nine-run inning in the sixth to
take the lead, and grabbed the advantage again on Robinson's
heroics two innings later.
Down 8-0 heading into the top of the sixth thanks in part to
three Bobcat errors and six walks, Georgia College responded with a
nine-run inning, featuring a pair of home runs. Rightfielder
Derek
Johns (Waynesville, Ga.) started the inning with a
leadoff solo blast, and centerfielder Sean Harrell (Martinez,
Ga.) supplied two more with his home run later in the
inning. When the dust settled, 14 batters had gone to the plate,
and the Bobcats led 9-8.
The Pacers responded in the seventh, getting a solo shot from
catcher John Sherrer and an RBI double from first baseman Ken
Raborn. USCA slid back into the lead 10-9.
In the eighth Harrell led off with a walk, followed by a Johns
single. After a sacrifice bunt and another out, Robinson ripped a
shot to left, bringing home both men for an 11-10 lead. After a
walk, first baseman Matt Pitts (Brunswick,
Ga.) took a single to left, scoring Robinson for the 12-10
final.
Closer Martin Dewald
(Mannheim, Germany) entered in the bottom of the eighth,
making things interesting putting runners on the corners and one
out, but got the next Pacer to ground into a double play to kill
the threat. The Pacers got a leadoff single in the ninth, but he
was stranded for Dewald's sixth save, tying for the Peach Belt
Conference (PBC) lead.
Junior lefty Ryan Tabor
(Lawrenceville, Ga.) went just 1/3 of an inning for the
win, improving to 4-1 on the season. Chad Benefield (1-1) tossed 2
1/3 in the loss.
Johns was 4-for-5 with three runs and an RBI, while Robinson
added a 2-for-5 effort, scoring twice and driving in three. Pitts
finished 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run.
For the Pacers, Sherrer was 2-for-3 with two runs and three
driven in, while shortstop Steven Carmon was 2-for-5 with three RBI
and a run. The 7-8-9 hitters for USCA went a combined 6-for-12
scoring five times and driving in seven.
The Bobcat win streak extends to seven in a row. GCSU is atop
the PBC standings at 8-2, and has won the last five conference
battles.
The Bobcats finish up the three-game set with the Pacers
tomorrow, March 21 a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
Visit www.GCSUBobcats.com to nominate your favorite former
Bobcats and Colonials to the GCSU Athletics Hall of Fame. The GCSU
Department of Athletics sponsors 10 varsity athletic programs at
the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, GCSU prides
itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by
the Bobcats' multiple appearances in post-season competition as
well as documented academic success and community-service
involvement.
