>>>PURCHASE PHOTO PRINTS

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – Having already clinched a Peach Belt Conference (PBC) playoff spot, the Georgia College baseball team (29-17, 14-12 PBC) split action Saturday with GRU Augusta (18-27, 11-17 PBC), rebounding from a 9-6 loss to take the nightcap 10-3 at John Kurtz Field.

The Bobcats had a two-out rally in the ninth of game one, and with the tying run at the plate, catcher Steve Hazel (Kentwood, Michigan) blasted a ball to left center that Jaguar centerfielder Clint Hardy caught while crashing into the wooden outfield wall for the final out. Hardy held on to the ball that came just a few feet from tying the contest.

First baseman Clay Ardeeser (Loganville) was 3-for-4 in game one, driving in two runs. Rightfielder Jake Sandlin (Evans) added a 2-for-5 game with a home run and a triple, driving in two and scoring twice as well. Second baseman Dylan Cook (Portola Valley, California) had two hits in four trips as well.

Bobcat starter Cameron Busby (Grovetown) fell victim to the three Bobcat errors, allowing seven runs in the loss (2-4) but only three earned.

Georgia College led from pillar to post in game two, as Sandlin got the scoring started with a solo home run as the first Bobcat batter of the game. He now has 13 home runs on the season, fourth in the PBC.

The Bobcats busted the game open with a four-run third, sending nine batters to the plate and the big blow a bases-clearing double from Ardeeser.

Lefty John Clark (Duluth) was strong on the hill, allowing just two runs over five innings, fanning two and improving to 4-1.

Centerfielder Logan Mattix (Loganville) was 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run, while Cook and designated hitter Brandon Purcell (Glennville) each had 2-for-3 games with two runs apiece. Sandlin had another multi-hit game at 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Ardeeser had just the one hit, but drove in four.

Ardeeser tallied two more doubles today for 59 in his career, good for third in school history. He tied Bill Blair (1984-87) in today's action, and is now four away from second place and GC Hall of Famer Keith Slocumb (1982-85).

Sandlin also continues to climb the recordbooks, as his two home runs give the junior 28 in his career, good for eighth in school history. He is tied with Kevin Blizzard (1986-89), Jason Backus (1996-97) and Mike DeVeaux (2004-06).  

The Bobcats finish the three-game set with GRU tomorrow, May 3 at 1 p.m. GC Baseball will hold its Senior Day presentation prior to the contest.

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.