MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. –  Getting great pitching and timely hitting, the Georgia College Baseball team (9-5, 8-5 PBC) beat No. 16 Columbus State University (9-4, 8-4 PBC) 7-3 Friday night at John Kurtz Field.

GC scored first on an RBI single from centerfielder Cam Hill (Marietta) in the first. Down 2-1 in the third the Bobcats busted out for three runs, including another RBI single from Hill. After CSU cut the lead to 4-3, the Bobcats got a big three-run seventh for insurance.  

Shortstop Cassius Young (Atlanta) got the inning going with a solo blast to left center on an 0-1 pitch. Hill followed with a single, stole second then immediately took third on a throwing error. Hill then scored on a double from leftfielder Jay Saunders (Moultrie) for a 6-3 lead. An RBI groundout provided the final insurance run and the 7-3 advantage.  

Sophomore righty Josh Hudgins (Dunwoody) improved to 3-1 with six innings of work tonight. He scattered five hits and two walks for three runs, and fanned seven Cougar batters. He turned the 4-3 lead over to classmate Brennan Crooms (Metter) who dazzled for the final three frames, only allowing a single hit and a walk while striking out seven more. Crooms nabbed his first career save as a result.

Hill finished 3-for-5 with two RBIs and a run, stealing two bases. Young added a pair of hits, including his sixth home run of the season, and two RBIs. Saunders was 2-for-3 with an RBI, while rightfielder Paul Grazzini (Marietta) had two hits in five trips with a steal, scoring twice.

Senior second baseman Cal Gentry (Perry) scored a run tonight, giving him 192 in his career, breaking his tie with Bill Blair (1987) to own sole possession of ninth in school history. Up next is GC Hall of Famer Phil Arp (1983) with 193.

The Bobcats finish the series with the Cougars in a doubleheader tomorrow, March 20 at 1 p.m.

The Georgia College Department of Athletics is proud to receive the 2020 NCAA Division II Presidents' Award for Academic Excellence. The two-time winners of the PBC Commissioner Cup and the former PBC Sportsmanship Institution of the Year, GC Athletics sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on Graduating Champions For Life. Sign up at @GCBobcats on all social media outlets for up-to-the-minute reports, and visit GCBobcats.PhotoReflect.com to purchase photo prints from home athletic contests.