MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. | Georgia College & State University used a four-run sixth inning to rally for a 6-3 non-conference baseball victory over the University of North Georgia Friday (Feb. 23) evening at John Kurtz Field.
The Bobcats snapped their four-game losing streak and improved to 6-7, while the Nighthawks saw their six-game winning streak crumble as they fell to 8-2. The middle game of the three-game set will be played at 2 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 24).
Each team traded a run in the first inning. GCSUÂ scored its run without the benefit of a hit.
Evan Cowan led off with a walk, stole second and came around to score on back-to-back ground out from
Matthew Mebane and
Braeden Smith.
The Bobcats took a 2-1 lead in the third on an unearned run.
Brandon Bellflower, who walked three times in the game, reached on a walk and advanced to second on a passed ball and scored on Mebane's infield single and throwing error by the UNG shortstop.
North Georgia got single runs in the fifth and sixth innings to regain a 3-2 lead, but the Bobcats roughed up UNG reliever Matthew Heard (0-1) for four runs without an out in the bottom of the sixth.
Gabriel Wuerth and
Hank Noonan had back-to-back two-run singles for GCSU.
GCSU reliever
John Raines, who earned his second save, held the Nighthawks at bay as he scattered three hits and struck out six over the game's final three innings.
Bradley Wilson (1-2) earned the win for the Bobcats, allowing just one earned run and five strikeouts in six innings.
Wuerth, Noonan and
Cam McNearney each registered two hits as the Bobcats totaled eight in the game.
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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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