>>>PURCHASE PHOTO PRINTS

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – Four home runs and a solid pitching effort from seven different arms helped the Georgia College baseball team (7-11) upset No. 21 University of West Georgia (14-6), 9-2 Wednesday at John Kurtz Field. The victory was the first this season for GC Baseball over a nationally-ranked opponent.

The home runs were early and often as centerfielder Jake Sandlin (Evans) put one up on a solo shot off the top of the wall in left, starting bottom of the very first inning. The pitchers dueled from there, as Georgia College's Charlie Hecht (Johns Creek) and West Georgia's Josh Morgan went head-to-head.

Hecht (2-0) went four innings, allowing just two hits and a walk while fanning three. Morgan (2-1) tossed five frames, matching the two hits and adding just a single run, fanning five and walking two. It was after the Wolves went to the bullpen that the wheels came off for West Georgia.

The Bobcats had a five-run sixth and a three-run seventh to take over. Georgia College sent nine hitters to the plate in the sixth, the big shot a two-run blast from catcher Steve Hazel (Kentwood, Michigan) to right field. Third baseman Tanner Giesel (Naperville, Illinois) tagged his first round-tripper in a Bobcat uniform in the seventh, and shortstop Brandon Benson (Loganville) added his own, a two-run shot after a Sandlin double.

Giesel finished 2-for-2 with an RBI and two runs scored, and Sandlin added two hits in three trips, scoring three times and driving in another.

Brady Walsh (Marietta), Kyle Ward (Rincon) and Bryce Bush (Phoenix, Arizona) each fired scoreless innings in relief.

The Bobcats are back in action Friday, March 13 at 4 p.m., hosting Columbus State University.

The Georgia College Department of Athletics, two-time winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup, sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' multiple appearances in post-season competition as well as documented academic success and community-service involvement. Sign up at @GCBobcats on Twitter and Facebook for up-to-the-minute reports, and visit GCBobcats.PhotoReflect.com to purchase photo prints from home athletic contests.