by Tyler Peck, sports information graduate assistant

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - The No. 27 Georgia College & University baseball squad (0-2) lost its opening two games against the No. 7 University of Tampa (2-0) today (Feb. 7). The Bobcats fell 8-6 in the first game and 9-4 in game number two.

The Bobcats' Richard Pirkle (Norcross, Ga.) hit a home run in his first at-bat of the season in the second inning to make the score 4-1 in Tampa's favor. In the third, Matt Pitts (Brunswick, Ga.) knocked in two runs, as Kyle Allen (Conyers, Ga.) and ChandlerSnell (Loganville, Ga.) crossed the plate for Georgia College.

Going into the bottom of the ninth, head coach Tom Carty's 'Cats were down 8-3. GCSU rallied to score three runs and came mere feet from winning the game. Allen scored on a Pitts single and Sean Harrell (Martinez, Ga.) came in on a Shawn Ward (Martinez, Ga.) base hit. Pirkle added an RBI single, scoring Pitts. With two runners on, Steve Muoio (Rochester, N.Y.) came up to the plate as a pinch hitter, and hit a deep shot to right field sending Tampa's Tyler Cox to the wall. The ball looked as though it was going to sail over the fence, but Cox had enough room to make the out.

Georgia College's Ryan Tabor (Lawrenceville, Ga.) started the first game and gave up seven hits and four runs in three innings of play for the loss (0-1). Tampa's Sean Bierman recorded the win and Daniel Foltz got the save for the Spartans as they won 8-6.  

In the second game, the Spartans once again scored runs in the first inning and went up 2-0 against Ryan Parson (Madison, Ga.). Georgia College bounced back to score a run in the bottom of the inning, making the score 2-1.

The Bobcats came back again in the bottom of the fourth to get three runs. Ward started the inning with a double and Pirkle followed with a single. Ward scored on a balk and then Muoio knocked in Pirkle. Jason Veyna (Lamar, Colo.) then reached on a fielder's choice with Muoio scoring on the play. Georgia College went scoreless during the final three innings of the seven-inning game and lost 9-4.

Parson (0-1) pitched four innings, giving up seven runs and seven hits.

The 'Cats and Spartans close out the three-game set tomorrow, Feb. 8 at 1 p.m.

The GCSU Department of Athletics, winners of the 2008-09 PBC Commissioner's Cup, 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. Sign up at Twitter.com username GCSUSID for up-to-the-minute reports, and visit www.GCSUBobcats.com to nominate your favorite former Bobcats and Colonials to the GCSU Athletics Hall of Fame.