by Tyler Peck, sports information graduate assistant
>>>boxscore
AIKEN, S.C. – Putting up five runs in the
eighth inning and out-scoring opponents 8-1 over the final three
frames, the No. 19 Georgia College & State University baseball
team (17-10, 9-3 PBC) downed another top Peach Belt Conference
(PBC) competitor Sunday afternoon. The Bobcats defeated No. 7 USC
Aiken (22-10, 11-4 PBC) 14-12.
Centerfielder Sean
Harrell (Martinez,
Ga.), first baseman Matt
Pitts (Brunswick,
Ga.) and catcher BentonYaun
(Marietta,
Ga.) all had three hits for
Georgia College. Pitts had a team-best four RBI, while Yaun added
two RBI and two runs scored.
In the second inning, rightfielder Shawn Ward
(Martinez,
Ga.) hit a two-run homer to put
the Bobcats up 2-1.
Designated hitter Steve
Muoio (Rochester, N.Y.) drove an RBI single in the
third to score shortstop Chandler
Snell (Loganville, Ga.). The Pacers answered right
back to score six runs to go ahead 7-3.
Georgia College responded by scoring three runs in the top of
the fourth. Second baseman Jason
Veyna (Lamar,
Colo.) hit a home run to left
field with two on base. Once again, USC Aiken came back big,
scoring four runs themselves to extend their lead to 11-6, then the
Georgia College bats took over.
In the seventh inning, Harrell and Pitts singled to get the
Bobcats going. Yaun followed with a double to knock in his
teammates. Yaun later scored when Ward reached on an error.
The Bobcat bats came alive again in the top of the eighth as
they scored five more runs. Veyna walked to start the inning and
then scored when Snell reached first on an error. Three batters
later Pitts hit a grand slam to give the 'Cats the 14-11
advantage.
Senior righty Brendon
Malkowski
(Schenectady,
N.Y.) threw three shutout innings
of relief including the seventh inning.
With two outs and two runners on in the ninth, Georgia College
sent in their ace Martin
Dewald (Mannheim,
Germany) to get the final out.
The senior righty did just that, striking out the only batter he
faced to get his first save of the season.
USC Aiken's Alex Franklin, David Vitko and preseason
all-conference player Travis Howard all led their team with three
hits. Bill Rice had a team-best three RBI.
The Bobcats hit the field against Clark Atlanta University at 5
p.m. Tuesday, March 30 at John Kurtz Field.
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, Georgia College
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.
