Box Score
AMERICUS, Ga. – The Georgia College & State University Baseball team (13-4, 10-5 PBC) got some much-needed runs early and late to beat Georgia Southwestern State University (16-10, 12-6 PBC) 14-9 on the road Sunday.
The Bobcats jumped up early with four in the first and three in the second. First baseman Mason Spivey (Appling) got things started with an RBI double in the first. Rightfielder Brandon Bellflower (Milledgeville) provided a two-run home run in the second.
GCSU led 9-0 before the Hurricanes got on the board with two in the seventh. Trading runs from there, the Bobcats led 10-6 heading into the top of the ninth. There, GCSU plated four more runs to take a huge 14-6 advantage, but GSW wouldn't go down without a fight.
The Hurricanes plated three runs in the bottom of the ninth but the rally was halted by GCSU's relief corps.
Leftfielder Hunter Baker (Huntersville, North Carolina) finished the game 3-for-3 with a solo home run in the eighth, his PBfirst as a Bobcat. He scored three times and drove in three more. Baker also had a double and three walks in his best game in a GCSU uniform. Centerfielder Evan Cowan (Richmond Hill) also had three hits in five at-bats with an RBI and a run. Add in Bellflower's home run and GCSU's outfield went a combined 7-for-14 with five runs scored and seven runs batted in, adding two home runs, a double and three walks. Bellflower's home run was his fourth this season and the 16th of his Bobcat career.
Catcher Trevor Knowles (Folkston) had two hits and three RBIs. Designated hitter Jaxon Weatherford (Charleston, South Carolina) also added two singles with two runs and an RBI. Spivey finished 2-for-5 with three runs and the RBI single in the first, and third baseman Ben Tuten (Bristol) had a 2-for-5 game with two runs and an RBI. Eight of the nine spots in the lineup had a hit today for the Bobcats, and all nine either scored or drove in a run.
Senior righty Trey Felt (Lawrenceville) went 6 2/3 innings without an earned run, scattering six hits and a walk while striking out three. Felt improves to 2-0 with the victory in his second start as a Bobcat.
The Bobcats are back in action Tuesday, March 28 at 5 p.m., hosting No. 22 Valdosta State University.
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.
