MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. | Georgia College & State University used single runs in six different innings as the Bobcats rallied for a 6-5 non-conference baseball victory over Albany State University Wednesday (Feb. 14) afternoon at John Kurtz Field.
The Bobcats improved to 5-3, while the Golden Rams fell to 1-2. Georgia College opens a three-game home against No. 1 University of Tampa this weekend at home, starting with a 5 p.m. contest Friday (Feb. 16).
GCSU took a 1-0 lead in the first as
Brandon Bellflower stroked a double to left center and scored on
Matthew Mebane's single up the middle. Luke Addison gave Albany State a 2-1 lead in the top of the second on a two-run homer to left-center field.
The Bobcats tied the game at 2 in their half of the inning as
Hank Noonan and
Mason Poole reached on singles and Noonan scored on single through the left side by
Rand Bestermann. The Golden Rams scored twice in the third to open up a 4-2 lead before Mebane led off the bottom half of the frame with a 421-foot home run to center field to get a run back for the Bobcats.
GCSU tied the game at 4 on
Braeden Smith's ground out in the fifth before taking a 5-4 lead an inning later when
Mitch Cowan scored on a passed ball. Georgia College scored its final run in the seventh on Smith's RBI-single through the right side scored
Cam McNearney, who started the inning with a double down the left field line.
Bobcat reliever
Jacob Ryan (1-0) earned the win, allowing just one run and three hits over four innings. Ryan registered three strikeouts.
John Raines earned his first save as he pitched a scoreless ninth inning and struck out two.
Bellflower and Mebane had two hits each as GCSU collected 11 overall. Each Bobcat starter had at least one hit against the Golden Rams. Bellflower and Mebane each drove in two run.sd
About GCSU AthleticsÂ
Owning the top Academic Success Rate among all public colleges and universities in Division II for three consecutive academic years, the Georgia College Department of Athletics sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. GCSU Athletics has won four consecutive Presidents' Awards for Academic Excellence, and are two-time winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup and four-time winners of 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 postseason 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 or subscribe to theÂ
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