MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – The Georgia College Baseball team (8-0, 4-0 PBC) stayed perfect on the young season with a lights-out performance from righty Kyle King (Johns Creek) to beat Francis Marion University (4-4, 0-1 PBC) 6-1 Friday at John Kurtz Field.

King (2-0) threw seven innings, striking out 12 Patriot batters while allowing just three hits and a walk. At one point, the senior set down 14 batters in a row.

The 12 strikeouts are the most by a Bobcat pitcher since Charlie Hecht (2018) fanned 14 in an 8-1 complete game win over USC Aiken March 2, 2018.

The Bobcats took over a scoreless game with a three-run third, plating two on an error and another run on a groundout.

It took until the eighth, but the Bobcats doubled their advantage with a balk, an RBI single from Paul Grazzini (Marietta) and another run-scoring single for Noah Mendlinger (Alpharetta).

The Bobcat bats were relatively quiet, tallying just eight hits on the night. Rightfielder Jay Saunders (Moultrie) was 2-for-4, as shortstop Cassius Young (Atlanta) finished 2-for-3 with a run, an RBI and two stolen bases.

The Bobcats are back in action tomorrow, Feb. 15 at 2 p.m. in game two of the three-game set with Francis Marion.

The Georgia College Department of Athletics, two-time winners of the PBC Commissioner Cup and the 2017 PBC Sportsmanship Institution of the Year, 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.