CENTRAL, S.C. | Braeden Smith hit a home run, a double, and drove in four as Georgia College & State University took down Southern Wesleyan University 12-2 in seven innings in a non-conference baseball contest Tuesday (April 1) night at the Dr. C Keith Connor Field.
The Bobcats built upon their three-game weekend sweep of Claflin University, extending their winning streak to four and increasing their record to 21-15, while the Warriors fell to 8-28. GCSU looks to continue its winning streak with a three-game Peach Belt Conference set against the University of South Carolina-Aiken, with game one Friday (April 4) at 6 p.m. at John Kurtz Field.Â
The Bobcats struck first to start the game as Ben Hamacher's RBI single drove in Gabe Wuerth in the first, and Smith raced home on a wild pitch to make it 2-0. However, the Warriors tied things back up at 2 in the bottom of the third, taking advantage of a J.D. Coleman miscue and a Josh Long RBI single to center.Â
The Bobcat bats fired back quickly, though, as a  Smith two-run home run - his team-leading ninth of the season - and Hank Noonan two-run double brought the score to 7-2. Another two came across on an RBI double from Hamacher and a ground out from Smith.Â
Finally, a three-run seventh set up the run-rule victory, fueled by a Wuerth RBI double, Smith RBI single, and a wild pitch to score Smith.Â
Will Sims (1-1) collected the win off three innings of two-run baseball– both unearned - giving up three hits and striking out two. Tams Mullins earned his first saves on four shutout innings, giving up only one hit and one walk. Mullins retired the first 10 batters he faced.
The Bobcats hit seven doubles, two coming from Wuerth, and one from Smith, Coleman, Hamacher, Noonan, and Evan Cowan.Â
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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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