Box Score VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Georgia College baseball team (28-16) took advantage of three Valdosta State University (28-17) errors en route to a 9-1 romp on the road Tuesday.
The Bobcats posted a five-run third and never looked back. Georgia College sent nine hitters to the plate in that frame, getting a two-run double from shortstop Brandon Benson (Loganville), a run-scoring double from first baseman Clay Ardeeser (Loganville) and RBI singles from both catcher Steve Hazel (Kentwood, Michigan) and centerfielder Logan Mattix (Loganville) in the frame.
The defending Peach Belt Conference (PBC) Freshman of the Week, Mattix finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs, scoring once. Ardeeser had two hits in four trips, scoring twice with one RBI. Leadoff man and rightfielder Jake Sandlin (Evans) added a 2-for-5 effort, scoring a run, and designated hitter Brandon Purcell (Glennville) was 2-for-3 with a run scored and one driven in.
The Bobcats broke up the game, with nine pitchers dealing an inning each. Sophomore righty Kyle Ward (Rincon) threw a hitless fifth inning for the win, improving to 2-1. Of the nine runs scored by the Georgia College offense on the night, just two were earned.
Ardeeser's double gives the senior 57 in his career, good for fourth in school history. He already owns the NCAA-era record for GC Baseball, and is just two away from third in Bill Blair (1984-87). Ardeeser's 258 career hits tie him with Chris Pierce (1982-85) for sixth in school history, and the first baseman's two runs scored today put him at 178, tying Hans Stancil (2004-07) for 10th all-time.
The Bobcats are back in action Saturday, May 2 at 1 p.m., hosting GRU Augusta in doubleheader action.
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.
