ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Making just his second start of the season, fifth-year senior Josh Hudgins (Dunwoody, Georgia) had perhaps the best performance of his career thus far, as Georgia College & State University Baseball (2-7, 1-0 PBC) beat Flagler College (0-11, 0-4 PBC) 2-0 on the road Friday night.

Hudgins (1-0) wove seven epic innings, allowing just two hits and a single walk while striking out seven Saints.

Flagler threatened a few times, putting runners on third on two different occasions against Hudgins. Each time the righty rose to the challenge, shutting the door and keeping the shutout.

With one out and runners on second and third in the third inning, Hudgins induced an infield fly and then fanned the next batter to get in the dugout. Again in the fifth, with two runners in scoring position and two out, Hudgins picked up a swinging strikeout to end the threat.

He turned the ball over to freshman John Raines (Powder Springs, Georgia) for the final two innings, and he followed suit. The rookie picked up his first save, not allowing a hit and striking out five.

Rightfielder Brandon Bellflower (Milledgeville, Georgia) drove in the first run in the sixth. Evan Cowan (Richmond Hill, Georgia) led off with a single, took second on a sacrifice bunt, then one out later Bellflower sent a single up the middle to plate the speedy Cowan.

Insurance came in the eighth, when the Bobcats manufactured another run, using a pair of walks and an error.

The Bobcats and Saints are at it again tomorrow, Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. for game two of the three-game set.

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.