GRANITEVILLE, S.C. | Georgia College & State University ran its winning streak to five games as the Bobcats defeated the University of South Carolina-Aiken 14-3 in the Peach Belt Conference baseball series opener Thursday (March 28) at Roberto Hernandez Stadium.
The Bobcats improved to 19-11 overall and remains in first place in the PBC with a 10-3 ledger, while the Pacers fell to 8-24 and 4-9. The teams will play the middle game of the three-game set Friday (March 30) at 4 p.m.
GCSU jumped on USC Aiken starter Jacob Fletcher (1-5) for five runs in the second inning.
Mason Poole had a two-run single to right field and
Brent Burford followed with a three-run homer to left field. It was his second long ball of 2024.
Georgia College added two unearned runs in the sixth thanks to a pair of USC Aiken errors in the sixth to open up a 7-0 lead. The Bobcats made it 9-2 in the seventh as
Mitch Cowan drew a bases-loaded walk with Poole was hit by a pitch.Â
The Bobcats closed out the scoring with five runs in the ninth as they took advantage of wildness from USC Aiken. With the bases loaded, Poole,
Gabriel Wuerth, and
Braeden Smith each drew a walk, while
Cam McNearney knocked in a run after being hit by a pitch.
Brandon Bellflower added an RBI single in the frame.
Bradley Wilson (2-2) earned the win as he allowed three hits and struck out two in four innings.
GCSU collected 12 hits with Bellflower and
Evan Cowan leading the way with three apiece, while Smith and McNearney had two each. Poole drove in four runs, while Burford had three RBI.
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
GSCU Athletics e-newsletter to receive the latest news, schedule updates and to interact with GCSU Athletics.
Â
