MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. | Georgia College & State University finished the sweep over the University of South Carolina-Aiken 17-6 in seven innings in a Peach Belt Conference Sunday (April 6) afternoon baseball matinee at John Kurtz Field.
The Bobcats' winning streak increased to seven as they improved to 24-15 overall and to 16-2 in the PBC, while the Pacers fell to 16-22 and 6-12. GCSU concludes its homestand Tuesday (April 8) with a 5 p.m. battle against Erskine College.
The Bobcats put four on the board first from a bases-loaded two-run double from Evan Cowan, a sacrifice fly from Caleb Miele, and an RBI single from J.D. Coleman. However, the Pacers answered with a run at the top of the second, as Jack Hobson singled up in the middle for an RBI.
A Gabe Wuerth double and walk to Ben Hamacher set things up for Braeden Smith, sending a baseball at 100 miles per hour and almost 400 feet to left center for a home run – his 10th of the season as the Bobcats opened up a 7-1 lead.
The teams traded pairs of runs in each half of the third inning, as Hunter Thompson and Donovan Glisson drove in two for USC Aiken, and Wuerth and Hamacher drove in two for GCSU.
Glisson and Eliud Poventud drove in a run, each at the top of the fifth, but the Bobcats reared back for an eight-run rally between the fifth and sixth innings. Mebane walked for an unearned RBI in the fifth. Yet, seven came across in the sixth via a hit-by-pitch to Phillips, walks to Wuerth, Hamacher, and Smith, a fielder's choice and error at second base for Cowan, a sacrifice fly for Miele, and finally a single to Coleman.
The Pacers came close to more baseball in the top of the seventh, as Poventud drove in one on a single, but Christian Donaldson settled down and shut down the bases-loaded threat.
Mason Brown (7-0) pitched five solid innings, permitting five runs on nine hits and two walks, while striking out one.
Four Bobcats had a multi-hit performance: Wuerth and Coleman had three apiece, while Smith and Cowan had two. Cowan tallied two doubles, while Wuerth and Coleman had one each.
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.
