MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. | The bats were hot early as Georgia College & State University as the Bobcats won 14-4 in seven innings in game one of the Peach Belt Conference weekend series against the University of South Carolina-Beaufort Friday (March 7) at John Kurtz Field.
The Bobcats improved to 10-11 overall and to 4-0 in the Peach Belt, while the Sand Sharks fell to 3-17 and 2-5. The teams conclude the series Saturday (March 8) with a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
Hank Noonan opened the scoring for the Bobcats as he singled to third base scoring Gabe Wuerth from third. Noonan stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the Sand Sharks allowing Braeden Smith to score.
The Bobcats would bust the game wide open in the bottom of the third, scoring six runs on just three hits. Smith started off the inning lacing a home run to deep right field, scoring two. It was Smith's team-leading seventh homer of the season. The Sand Sharks walked in three runs which was a steady theme for the game as the USCB pitchers could not find the strike zone.
The Sand Sharks struck back with a four-run top of the fourth inning as USCB hitters put together four singles in the frame..
The Bobcats answered back in the bottom of the fifth, having themselves a four-run inning of their own. Wuerth doubled to right leaving it up to Matthew Mebane. With two runners on, Mebane crushed a home run deep to center field putting the Bobcats up by eight (12-4). It was Mebane's third long ball of 2025.
In the bottom of the seventh the Bobcats would score runs thanks to RBI singles by Keagan Baxter and Carson Phillips which would end the game because of 10-run rule.
John Luke Glanton (4-1) would pick up another win on his season throwing a complete game, scattering 11 hits - all singles - and allowing just two walks with five strikeouts.
Wuerth and Evan Cowan led the Bobcats with two hits each. Smith and Mebane each knocked in three runs, while Phillips and Ben Hamacher each had two RBI.
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.
