ROME, Ga. – The Georgia College Baseball team (9-5) won an offensive shootout at Shorter University (10-6), 13-9 Tuesday.

The Bobcats swatted a pair of home runs, and used a five-run fifth to get ahead of the 2021 NCAA Tournament Qualifiers for good.

Up 10-5 into the bottom of the fifth, the Hawks rallied with four runs, but couldn't tie the game. GC's relievers slammed the door from there, not allowing Shorter any more runs over the remainder of the contest. Aidan McAllister (Suwanee) and Josh Patterson (Bluffton, South Carolina) threw the final 4 1/3 innings scoreless to seal the win.  

The Bobcats had six multi-hit performers, with Baylin Moore (Albany) and Brandon Bellflower (Milledgeville) leading the way at three each. Moore scored three times, and Bellflower had a double and his first home run this year, driving in five.

Each of the first four hitters for GC had two hits apiece. Cam Hill (Marietta) was 2-for-4 with three runs, and Austin Holloway (Social Circle) and Mason Spivey (Appling) each went 2-for-5. Palmer Sapp (Dawsonville) had a 2-for-6 game with two RBIs and a run, ripping his third home run of the season as part of that crucial fifth inning.

The win gives the Bobcats a season sweep over Shorter this year, combined with a 13-0 victory in Milledgeville.

Aidan McConnell (Roswell) picked up his first career victory (1-0), throwing 2 1/3 innings in relief. McAllister spun 3 1/3 innings scoreless with six strikeouts, two walks and one hit. Patterson provided a hitless ninth with two whiffs.

The Bobcats are back in action tomorrow, March 2 at 4 p.m., playing host to Lenoir-Rhyne 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.