By Sean Montgomery, Sports Information Student Assistant

TAMPA, Fla. – The Georgia College Baseball team (3-1) saw their win streak come to an end when they traveled to No. 2 University of Tampa (4-0) Friday night for a tough non-conference battle. After battling back to tie the game in the third, the Bobcat offense stalled, as they fell on the road, 8-1.

After a scoreless first frame, the Spartans broke through with the game's first run in the bottom of the second. Senior catcher Chris Gaffney reached on an error, allowing Vin Cosenzo to cross the plate.

However, Georgia College immediately responded in the top half of the third, when shortstop Brandon Benson (Loganville, Georgia) slashed a single up the middle, scoring Wesley Wommack (Monroe, Georgia) and tying the game at one-all. Benson had two of the Bobcats' four hits on the night, while Logan Mattix (Loganville, Georgia) notched a single and Brendan Holler (Gilroy, California) stroked a double.

Tampa answered back with four runs in the bottom half after stringing together a couple of hits and capitalizing on two Bobcat errors. The Spartans' pitching settled in from there, allowing only three more hits and no runs for the remaining portion of the ballgame, as they went on the secure the victory.

Charlie Hecht (Johns Creek, Georgia) had a solid start the game for the Bobcats, allowing ten hits but just two earned runs in five innings pitched. However, four errors committed by Georgia College allowed many of the runs to score. Grant Khan (Richmond, Texas) and Brady Walsh (Marietta, Georgia) came in as relief, tossing a combined three innings, surrendering a lone hit and two earned runs. Walsh struck out three of the seven batters he faced.

Garrett Cave picked up the win for the Spartans, tossing five innings and allowing just one earned run. 

The Bobcats will look to get back on the winning track Saturday, Feb. 11, as they take on the Spartans in game two of the three-game series at 6 p.m. 

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 social media for up-to-the-minute reports, and visit GCBobcats.PhotoReflect.com to purchase photo prints from home athletic contests.

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