GREENWOOD, S.C. | Georgia College & State University split a Peach Belt Conference baseball doubleheader with Lander University Saturday (April 12) afternoon at Stephen B. Dolny Stadium.
The Bearcats won the opener 4-3, but the Bobcats clawed back to win the nightcap 3-2.
The Bobcats improved to 26-16 and 17-3 in the PBC, while the Bearcats improved to 28-13 and 16-4, following the doubleheader. The teams complete the series with a rubber match Sunday (April 13) at 1 p.m.
J.D. Coleman opened the series' scoring, driving in Evan Cowan and Matthew Mebane on a base hit in the second; however, the Bearcats tied things up in the bottom of the inning on a Zach Cowart single and sacrifice fly from Taichi Nakao.
Adam Love stole home in the sixth inning to take the lead on a double-steal attempt with teammate Garrett Chun. Evan Cowan drove in the tying run in the eighth on a double play, but Will McClell drove in the go-ahead run in the bottom half of the inning, which gave the Bearcats just enough to pull away with the victory.
Tyler Bowen (2-1) collected the final six outs to secure the victory over the Bobcats, allowing only one baserunner, one walk, and striking out a pair.
Carson Phillips had two of the five GCSU hits in the opener.
Caden Crews drove in the opening run of the nightcap in the second with a single up the middle. However, the Bobcats stormed back as Braeden Smith continued to swing a hot bat, driving in Rand Bestermann in the fifth, and Ben Hamacher later helped take the lead in the same inning on a wild pitch.
Chun tied the contest for Lander with a sacrifice fly to score Love, but a ninth-inning sacrifice fly from Smith to score Hank Noonan gave GCSU enough cushion to close out the Bearcats to secure the doubleheader split.
Will Sims (2-1) worked two innings, giving up one run, but just enough to hold on to the GCSU lead and secure the win. Lex Kenny collected his second save of the season, giving up one walk, one hit, and striking out one.
The Bobcats only collected five hits in the second game, but GCSU took advantage of nine walks.
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.
