>>>boxscore
>>>Post-Game Press Conference
AIKEN, S.C.
– The No. 8 Georgia College & State
University baseball team (35-15) saw hopes of a Peach Belt
Conference (PBC) Tournament Championship come to a close Saturday
night, dropping a 5-4 decision to host USC Aiken (32-18).
Georgia College was held to just four runs and seven hits,
taking advantage of home runs by All-PBC first teamer Shawn Ward
(Martinez, Ga.) and a pinch-hit shot by Steve Muoio
(Rochester, N.Y.).
The difference maker was a two-run sixth by the Pacers, as
two-out back-to-back RBI doubles by shortstop Stephen Carmon and
All-PBC centerfielder Bill Rice plated a pair for a 5-3 lead.
Muoio's pinch home run cut the lead to 5-4 in the seventh, but
the Bobcats couldn't get the tying run across. With two out in the
ninth, Muoio doubled to put the tying run in scoring position, but
the Bobcats couldn't bring that run across.
All-PBC First Team starting pitcher Martin Dewald
(Mannheim, Germany) had a solid start, going seven innings
in the loss (9-2), allowing five runs with just three earned. He
scattered eight hits and struck out six.
Pacer reliever Cory Dobbins (1-0) went 3 1/3 innings for the
win, allowing just two hits, one run and fanning three. Chad
Benefield capped the game for his eighth save. The hitting star for
USCA was second baseman David Vitko, 2-for-4 with a run and RBI.
The Bobcats will now await the announcement for the NCAA
Southeast Regional Championship Tournament field, to be held May
13-17.
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.
