MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. | Sean Shelly drove in three runs including the go-ahead two-run single in the eighth inning that broke up a tied game as No. 10 Catawba College edged Georgia College & State University 12-11 in a non-conference baseball game Tuesday (March 4) afternoon at John Kurtz Field.
The Catawba Indians improved to 14-5, while the Bobcats saw their four-game winning streak snapped as they fell to 9-11. This was a rematch of last year's NCAA Division II Southeast Super Regional that saw Catawba win. GCSU returns to Peach Belt Conference action Friday (March 7) when they open a three-game home series against the University of South Carolina-Beaufort. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
With the game tied at 10, Shelly snuck a single through left side that scored two runs that gave Catawba a 12-10 lead. GCSUÂ got a run back in the bottom of the ninth.
Hank Noonan started the rally with an infield single and moved to third on
Evan Cowan's double to right-center field.
Carson Phillips drove in Noonan on a sacrifice fly to center to pull within a run at 12-11. Cowan was left stranded when Hayden Simmerson earned his fourth save of 2025 when he got the final out on a swinging strike three.
Owen Thomas (0-1) took the loss for the Bobcats, while Joe Burleyson (1-0) earned the win.
GCSU outhit Catawba 17-12. Every Bobcat starter except for one had a hit, while seven of the nine had at least two.
Braeden Smith led the way with four hits, while
Gabe Wuerth,
Ben Hamacher,
Matthew Mebane, Noonan, Cowan, and
Keagan Baxter had two apiece.
Six of the hits went for extra bases. Baxter tallied his fourth homer of the year with his solo shot to left field in the second. Cowan had a two-run triple down the left field line that highlighted a five-run fifth for the Bobcats. Smith, Noonan, Cowan and Baxter each connected on a double.
Cowan drove in three runs for the Bobcats, while Mebane and Baxter knock in two each.
About GCSU AthleticsÂ
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 theÂ
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