MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – A great start from a newcomer and some strong relief helped the Georgia College Baseball team (2-1) rebound to split a Saturday doubleheader with No. 1 University of Tampa (1-1) Saturday at John Kurtz Field. The Bobcats fell in game one 11-4 and rebounded for a 5-4 victory in the second.

Tampa looked every bit as advertised in game one, rattling off 15 hits for the 11 runs. The big difference was a six-run second in which the Spartans had six hits, including two extra-base knocks.

GC had a three-run fourth with RBI singles from Matthew Chester (Evans) and Paul Grazzini (Marietta), but the early damage was too much to overcome.

Chester finished 2-for-3 with two runs and the RBI. Grazzini was 2-for-5. Catcher Austin Holloway (Social Circle) had two hits in four trips with a run, and shortstop KC Brown (Savannah) was 2-for-4.

Righty starter Josh Hudgins (Dunwoody) allowed six earned runs in the loss (0-1). Freshman righty Aidan McConnell (Roswell) looked sharp with four scoreless innings and seven whiffs.

Game two featured the Bobcat debut of sophomore righty Davis Swenson (Toccoa), scattering five hits for just two runs over five innings. Four of his innings went scoreless, including setting the Spartans down in order in the fourth. Lefty reliever Aidan McAllister (Suwanee) spun two scoreless innings with three strikeouts to get the win (1-0).

Down 2-1 heading to the bottom of the seventh, the Bobcats exploded for four runs to take the lead. Holloway capped the inning with a two-run double to center.

Lefty Luc Scudellari (Roswell) picked up his first career save in two innings of work.

Brown was the lone Bobcat with multiple hits in game two, going 2-for-5 with a double and a run.

The Bobcats wrap up the series with a single game against Tampa tomorrow, Feb. 6 at noon.

As a proud recipient 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 embodies the mantra of "Graduating Champions for Life." Sign up at @GCBobcats on all social media outlets for up-to-the-minute reports.