Box Score MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - The Georgia College & State University Baseball team (1-4) lost their home opener to Florida Southern College (4-4) 6-5 in 10 innings Friday.
The Bobcats led the majority of the game, as FSC tied the contest with a three-run eighth and then posted a pair in the 10th for the victory.
Things looked great early on for GCSU, with first baseman Mason Spivey (Appling) tagging a two-run home run in the bottom of the first. The Mocs cut the lead in half with a run in the fifth, but the Bobcats got a run each in the fifth and sixth for a 4-1 advantage. That held until that three-run eighth.
Even with the two runs in the top of the 10th the Bobcats fought back, cutting the lead to one with an RBI double from freshman Evan Cowan (Richmond Hill). The rally stopped there, however as the Mocs closed the win 6-5.
Leftfielder Matthew Chester (Evans) went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Cowan had pair of hits, scored a run and drove in another. Shortstop Dominic Arienzo (Madison) finished 2-for-5 with a double as well. Spivey added a pair of walks to his home run, his first this season.
Righty Josh Hudgins (Dunwoody) got the start and pitched masterfully. He buzzed through four shutout innings with two hits and no walks, fanning four. He was on a limited pitch count as this was his first start of the year. Righty reliever John Raines (Powder Springs) entered in the eighth and got the Bobcats out of a tough jam there. He finished with 2 1/3 innings, striking out five in the loss (0-2).
The Bobcats and Mocs are back in action tomorrow, Feb. 18 at 2 p.m. for game two of the three-game set.
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.
