by Tyler Peck, sports information graduate assistant

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - The No. 27 Bobcat baseball team (0-3) lost a high-scoring affair to the No. 7 Spartans of the University of Tampa (3-0) 15-13 today (Feb. 8) at John Kurtz Field.

Tampa used a six-run ninth to steal the game from Georgia College.

The Bobcats were down 4-0 going into the bottom of the third but rallied to even the score. Matt Pitts (Brunswick, Ga.) hit a RBI single to score Sean Harrell (Martinez, Ga.), Steve Muoio (Rochester, N.Y.) also singled scoring Drew Goodman (Kennewick, Wash.) and Andrew Evans (Milledgeville, Ga.) wrapped it up with a double, knocking in both Pitts and Muoio.

Tampa struck right back scoring two in the top of fourth, but once again the Bobcats answered back immediately with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Harrell and Goodman both singled before Pitts hit a three-run bomb to give Georgia College the 7-6 advantage.

The Bobcats scored two run in the sixth to take a 9-6 lead. Junior Shawn Ward (Martinez, Ga.) hit a RBI single that knocked in Pitts, and Evans doubled to send Ward across the plate.

The Spartans were able to get runs in the final three innings of the game while Georgia College only scored in the eighth. Tampa put up one run in the seventh and two in the eighth.

Pitts scored on a Ward single, Richard Pirkle (Norcross, Ga.) drove in two runs on a double and ChandlerSnell (Loganville, Ga.) singled to score Pirkle.

Tampa came to the plate down 13-9 but managed a six-run rally to win the game 15-13.

Pitts finished the day 5-for-6 with four runs and four RBI, swatting a big three-run blast. Evans added a 3-for-4 day with three RBI and a run, while Ward was 2-for-6, driving in a pair and scoring twice. The 3-through-6 slots had 12 hits, 10 RBI and eight runs.

Senior reliever Martin Dewald (Mannheim, Germany) was credited for the loss (0-1) after entering in the eighth. The Spartans' Jake Lowe (1-0) recorded his first win of the season while Aaron Gerbasi got the save, also his first.

Georgia College heads to Due West, S.C. to face No. 24 Erskine College tomorrow, Feb. 9 with the game starting at 2 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.