LEXINGTON, S.C. – The Georgia College Baseball team (7-5) won its fifth straight Tuesday over No. 25 University of Mount Olive (6-3) using a ninth-inning rally to defeat the Trojans 7-5. The two teams met at Lexington County Baseball Stadium in a neutral-site matchup.

The Bobcats looked good heading to the bottom of the eighth, up 4-1. A grand slam by the Trojans' Alden Cottle put GC down for the first time in the contest 5-4, with only three outs left to do something about it.

Centerfielder David Julian (Dunwoody, Georgia) started the ninth inning with a single and stood on third after a passed ball and sacrifice bunt. Pinch hitter Ben Tuten (Bristol, Georgia) then knocked in Julian with a single of his own to tie the game. Another base hit by Dominic Arienzo (Madison, Georgia) put pinch runner Matthew Chester (Evans, Georgia) on third, and a wild pitch with two out gave the Bobcats their final lead. Second baseman Austin Holloway (Social Circle, Georgia) drove in an insurance run and the Bobcats led by a pair heading into the bottom of the ninth.

A leadoff double for the Trojans brought the tying run to the plate, but freshman Aidan McConnell (Roswell, Georgia) got the three outs needed from the next three batters for his first career save. 

Third baseman Palmer Sapp (Dawsonville, Georgia) was the offensive star, going 3-for-4 with a two-run home run in the sixth, his second as a Bobcat. He finished with two runs scored as well. Julian also went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, adding a run and an RBI. Rightfielder Paul Grazzini (Marietta, Georgia) had a 2-for-4 day with two runs, and first baseman Mason Spivey (Appling, Georgia) finished 2-for-5 driving in one and scoring another.

Reliever Luc Scudellari (Roswell, Georgia) got the win (2-0) working just 1/3 of an inning. The grand slam by Cottle spoiled a strong start from lefty Jacob Hester (Marietta, Georgia) as he went five, allowing just a single run on three hits with one walk. Hester fanned five.

The Bobcats are now 2-2 against nationally-ranked competition this season.

GC Baseball is back in action Tuesday, March 1 at 1 p.m., traveling to Shorter University.

The proud recipients of the 2021 PBC Sportsmanship Institution of the Year, the Georgia College Department of Athletics sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. GC Athletics is now two-time winners of both the PBC Commissioner's Cup and the league's sportsmanship honor. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' continued appearances in post-season competition as well as high-level academic success and community-service involvement. Bobcat Athletics holds to the mantra of "Graduating Champions for Life". Sign up at @GCBobcats on all social media outlets for up-to-the-minute reports.