Box Score
MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – The Georgia College & State University Baseball team (14-16, 11-7 PBC) rallied in the bottom of the ninth to force extra baseball, but couldn't get past the University of North Georgia (19-16, 10-11 PBC) Sunday at John Kurtz Field, losing 7-5 in 10 innings.
The two teams were tied 2-2 after five, thanks to a two-run shot in the fourth from rightfielder Brandon Bellflower (Milledgeville). Pitching took over for a bit, as the teams reached the ninth still tied at 2-2. The home run was Bellflower's team-high fifth this season, and the 17th of his Bobcat career.
North Georgia plated three in the top of the ninth, aided by a costly Bobcat error. Backs against the wall, GCSU responded with three runs in the ninth to tie it up. Catcher Trey Ham (Perry) ripped a run-scoring single to left to plate the first run. A bases-loaded walk and a fielder's choice groundout then tied the game.
In the 10th, a suicide squeeze and subsequent throwing error scored two runs and provided the difference the Nighthawks would need for the win.
Leftfielder Matthew Chester (Evans) finished 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored, as the Bobcats were held to eight hits.
Righty reliever Hunter Goodwin (Sylvester) was tagged with the loss, falling to 1-2. He went an inning with a pair of earned runs.
The loss gives North Georgia a 2-1 win in the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) series, the first conference series loss at home this season for GCSU.
The Bobcats are back in action Tuesday, April 4 at 5 p.m., hosting Emmanuel College for College of Business & Technology Night as well as the Spring Tailgate Tour.
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.
