Box Score TAMPA, Fla. – Getting another outstanding pitching effort, the Georgia College & State University Baseball team (1-2) was edged 2-1 in 11 innings at No. 7 University of Tampa (2-0) Saturday.
It took until the eighth to crack the scoreboard, as Tampa plated a run on a double. The Bobcats answered right away in the top of the ninth.
With one out and the bases empty, senior Ben Tuten (Bristol, Georgia) blasted a solo home run down the left field line to tie it, his second round-tripper already this season. Tampa walked it off with a bases-loaded single through the left side.
Newcomer Jacob Ryan (Cumming, Georgia) got his first Bobcat career start, spinning seven shutout innings. The junior righty allowed just four hits and a single walk, fanning three. The loss went to freshman John Raines (Powder Springs, Georgia) but the rookie (0-1) was strong, allowing just a single run over 2 1/3 innings and striking out three.
The offensive effort was led by Tuten, going 2-for-5 with the solo blast and a single. The Bobcats stranded runners on second in both the 10th and 11th innings.
The Bobcats close out the three-game series with the Spartans tomorrow, Feb. 5 at noon.
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.
