DUE WEST, S.C. | Will Sims pitched four shutout innings, but it was not enough as the Georgia College & State University baseball team fell to Erskine College 6-3 Tuesday (Feb. 18) afternoon at Grier Field.
The 13th-ranked Bobcats fell to 5-6, while the Flying Fleet climbed to 6-5. GCSU continues its road trip with a three-game series against the University of North Georgia, beginning Friday (Feb. 21) at 3 p.m. in Dahlonega, Georgia.
Both starters pitched well as Sims and Blake Holshouser pitched four innings and struck out three each. However, despite their dominant performances, neither pitcher received the decision.
Christian Donaldson (1-3) was the first player out of the pen, although the Erskine offense did not greet him with a warm welcome, as Josh Hungler quickly walked and reached second on a wild pitch, to be singled in by Quinn Allen for the first run of the contest.
The Flying Fleet tacked on three more in the sixth through a two-run single single from Jorge Pascual, who later scored on a passed ball to cap off the inning.
GCSU struck for a pair in the seventh off an RBI single from Gabe Wuerth to plate Evan Cowan, and J.D. Coleman later was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded up to plate Hank Noonan.
Three sacrifice flies, a pair from Erskine and one from the Bobcats sent home the final three runs of the ballgame.
Jake Short (1-0) collected the win off two shutout innings out of the pen, where he struck two.
Six Bobcats - Ben Hamacher, Carson Phillips, Charlie Banks, Wuerth, Coleman, and Noonan - had at least one hit in the contest, with Noonan leading the way with two.
About GCSU Athletics
Owning the top Academic Success Rate among all public colleges and universities in Division II for four consecutive academic years, the Georgia College Department of Athletics sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. GCSU Athletics has won five 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 the GSCU Athletics e-newsletter to receive the latest news, schedule updates and to interact with GCSU Athletics.
