MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – The Georgia College Baseball team (24-15, 13-8 PBC) used the long-ball to get up early and rode it the rest of the way, topping Claflin University (3-23, 0-21 PBC) 8-5 on Senior Day at John Kurtz Field.

The Bobcats got up early, as KC Brown (Savannah) and Brandon Bellflower (Milledgeville) each hit solo home runs in the first inning added with a Palmer Sapp (Dawsonville) RBI double for a 3-0 lead after one.

Brown added his second home run, a solo blast in the seventh to make it 6-0 at time. The Panthers started the comeback trail there, with two runs in the eighth, but rightfielder Paul Grazzini (Marietta) got them right back with a two-run shot to right and an 8-2 lead in the eighth. Claflin scratched across three more in the top of the ninth to make it interesting, ending the game with the tying run at the plate.

Lefty starter Jacob Hester (Marietta) got the win. Hester (3-1) tossed five shutout innings, scattering five hits and a walk while striking out two. Lefty Luc Scudellari (Roswell) threw a scoreless sixth with two whiffs, and another lefty in Aidan McAllister (Suwanee) buzzed through a hitless seventh with one strikeout.

Brown finished 2-for-5 with the two solo blasts, he now has seven home runs this season and 11 in his Bobcat career. Grazzini was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs in the leadoff spot, his home run giving him four this season and eight total as a Bobcat. Bellflower's home run was his seventh of the year and ninth in his career.

The win puts GC at 13-8, tied for second in the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) Standings. The top eight qualify for the PBC Tournament, with the top four seeds earning hosting duties for the first round.

Prior to the contest the Bobcats honored 13 seniors, many of whom saw action today. A handful of these have eligibility left and could return, but are finishing their degrees in May. The 13 seniors are: Brown, Grazzini, Hester, Scudellari, McAllister, Austin Holloway (Social Circle), Brennan Crooms (Metter), Cam Hill (Marietta), Josh Hudgins (Dunwoody), Baylin Moore (Albany), Sam Sly (Atlanta), Parker Kauffmann (Social Circle) and Bryce Bowen (Bowman). 

The Bobcats are back in action Tuesday, April 19 at 4 p.m., hosting the University of West Georgia.

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.