MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. | The University of South Carolina-Aiken used a big third inning to defeat Georgia College & State University 15-5 in a Peach Belt Conference baseball contest Friday (April 17) evening at John Kurt Field.
The Bobcats fell to 17-24 overall and to 10-15 in conference, while the Pacers improved to 32-12 and 18-7. GCSU will continue the three-game set with a game Saturday (April 18) at 2 p.m. in which the Bobcats will honor the Return of Champions and celebrate their alumni prior to the contest.Â
Johan Rodriguez led off the scoring in the second for USC Aiken, while Osmin Melendez drove in the second run shortly after. Blake Martin started the pummeling in the third with a two-run home run to right field to make things 4-0, and a pair of singles from Roriguez and Evan Harding drove in three more.
Yariel Diaz and Martin forced in the final two runs of the third via a walk and a hit-by-pitch, respectively. Maverick Grisby put the Pacers up by ten in the fifth with a sacrifice fly to center.Â
Evan Cowan started the Bobcat offense with a base hit to drive in Rand Bestermann, and Carson Phillips, Blake Bellflower took advantage of a fielding error to keep the inning alive and plate a runner apiece. Cole Huddleston also drove in two runs on an error.Â
The Pacers plated five more runs from two singles from Donovan Gillson, Salvatore Laimo, and a fielder's choice from Harding.
Joseph Rauscher (8-1) kept the Bobcat offense honest, giving up five runs total with only two being earned. He also struck out four. Keaton Prior (3-7) gave up nine runs, five earned, in two and two-thirds innings.Â
Luke Boone led the Bobcats in hits with two, while Cowan, Huddleston, Bestermann, Carson Vick, and Keagan Baxter each had a hit.
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 the GSCU Athletics e-newsletter to receive the latest news, schedule updates and to interact with GCSU Athletics.Â
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