Box Score MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – In a battle between two of the better offensive clubs in all of Division II, the Georgia College Baseball squad (17-7) took down Erskine College (21-8) 16-14 Tuesday at John Kurtz Field.
The game resembled a heavyweight prize fight, as both teams staggered toward the finish. Erskine came out with the first flurry, scoring four in the first, two more in the second and three in the third for a strong 9-2 lead. Then Georgia College dusted itself off, rallying for three runs in the fourth and nine more in the fifth.
Junior Logan Mattix (Loganville) hit home runs in three straight plate appearances, a solo shot in the fourth, a two-run blast in the fifth with no one out, then a grand slam later that inning.
Erskine didn't quit, coming up at the nine-count with four runs in the sixth to cut the Bobcat advantage to 14-13. Single runs for Georgia College in the seventh and eighth kept Erskine at bay, counter-punching a Flying Fleet run in the eighth. Then senior Grant Khan (Richmond, Texas) closed the door, striking out the side in the ninth for his second save.
When the final bell rung, Georgia College had a 16-14 victory, and a crucial win in the NCAA Southeast Region.
Mattix finished with three hits, seven RBIs and three runs. Shortstop Brandon Benson (Loganville) had a huge day as well, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs, three runs and a solo home run of his own. Centerfielder Nate Schmal (Cumming) added a 4-for-5 day with three runs, while third baseman and defending Peach Belt Conference (PBC) Freshman of the Week Cal Gentry (Perry) was 3-for-6 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Designated hitter Brendan Holler (Gilroy, California) added a 3-for-4 game, two runs and two driven in, while rightfielder Wesley Wommack (Monroe) posted a pair of hits in four trips and two runs.
Righty reliever Brooks Luther (Dallas) got the win in his first appearance this season, tossing three innings, allowing a single earned run and striking out one Fleet batter.
The Bobcats are back in action Friday, March 24 at 6 p.m., traveling to Young Harris College.
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.
