COCHRAN, Ga. | Ten of the 13 hits by Georgia College & State University went for extra bases - including three home runs - as the Bobcats defeated Middle Georgia State University 12-5 in a Peach Belt Conference baseball game Saturday (March 7) afternoon at Stuckey Field.
With the three-game series tied at 1, the Bobcats improved to 7-13 overall and to 5-6 in the Peach Belt, while the Knights fell to 7-15 and 3-8. The rubber game will be played at 1 p.m. Sunday (March 8).
The Bobcats drew first blood as they pushed across four runs in the third inning.
Carson Vick drove in the first run on a single to right center before
Carson Phillips added a sacrifice fly.
Ty Petrovich closed out the scoring on a two-run double to right-center field.
GCSU used the long ball an inning later to score three runs and open up a 7-0 lead.
Rand Bestermann had a solo home run - his first of 2026 - to right-center field and
Luke Boone followed with a two-run homer - his fifth of the season - to right.
After Middle Georgia pushed across two runs in its half of the fourth, GCSU got a run back on
Blake Bellflower's long ball to right field in the sixth, his first of the campaign.
Petrovich added a sacrifice fly in the seventh to give GCSU a 9-2 lead. A run-scoring hit from Bellflower and an RBI groundout from Phillips in the eighth gave the Bobcats an 11-2 lead. Bestermann added a run-scoring double to center in the ninth to close out the scoring.
Bestermann, who had two doubles, led the GCSU hit parade with three hits, while Bellflower, Boone and
Evan Cowan each collected two. Cowan, Boone,
Tanner Patterson, Petrovich and
Cole Huddleston each registered a double in the win.
Jake Beaver (3-2) earned the win with seven strikeouts in six innings, while
Owen Thomas his first save of 2026 with three innings of relief.
About GCSU AthleticsÂ
Owning the top Academic Success Rate among all public colleges and universities in Division II for five consecutive academic years, the Georgia College Department of Athletics sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. GCSU Athletics has won six 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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