FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga. – Four pitchers combined to hold opposing batters in check as the Georgia College & State University Baseball team (1-0) started the 2023 season off with a victory at Emmanuel College (0-1) Wednesday, 4-2.

Third baseman Ben Tuten (Bristol) provided the biggest swing of the game, plating both himself and catcher Trevor Knowles (Folkston) on a two-run blast just a hair to the right side of center field. The shot doubled what was a 2-0 lead in the top of the eighth for the Bobcats.

The Bobcats sent four arms to the hill, all performing well in the win. Lefty Mason Brown (Lilburn) got the start and the win (1-0), spinning the first three innings, scattering three hits and a pair of walks with two strikeouts. Freshman John Raines (Powder Springs) added three more scoreless innings, fanning six Lions with just two hits and a walk. Senior Trey Felt (Lawrenceville) allowed a pair of runs while working the seventh and eighth, then senior lefty Luc Scudellari (Roswell) got his first save of the year with a strikeout in a hitless ninth.

Tuten finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs. First baseman Mason Spivey (Appling) plated a run with a sacrifice fly in the first and a Matthew Chester (Evans) RBI double made it 2-0 in the fifth.

The Bobcats have now won their last eight season-openers, dating back to 2016.

The Bobcats are back in action Friday, Feb. 3 at 6 p.m., traveling to No. 7 University of Tampa.

Owning the top Academic Success Rate among public schools in Division II, the Georgia College Department of Athletics sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. GCSU Athletics has won three-straight Presidents' Awards for Academic Excellence, and are two-time winners of both the PBC Commissioner's Cup and the PBC Institution of the Year Sportsmanship Award. 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 @GCSUBobcats on all social media outlets for up-to-the-minute reports.