MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. | Georgia College & State University's Evan Cowan and Tanner Patterson each had four hits, while Nick Bennett had five strong innings in relief as the Bobcats defeated the University of South Carolina - Aiken 13-8 in a Peach Belt Conference baseball game Saturday (April 18) afternoon at John Kurtz Field.

The Bobcats improved to 18-24 overall and to 11-15 in the Peach Belt, while the Pacers dropped to 32-13 and 18-8. The teams wrap up their weekend series with a 1 p.m. game Sunday (April 19). The Bobcats will recognize their nine seniors prior to the game at 12:30 p.m.

Yariel Diaz hit a two-run homer to right-center field in the first for USC Aiken, but scored single runs in the first and second innings to tie the game at 2. Luke Boone laced a RBI double down the left field line in the first before Patterson laced a solo home run to right field an inning later. It was his third round tripper of the season.

The Bobcats opened up a 5-2 lead with three runs in the third. Cole Huddleston had a bases-loaded walk and Patterson followed with a two-run single. USC Aiken retook the lead at 6-5 in the top of the fifth on a Donovan Gilsson sacrifice fly to left.

GCSU took the lead for good in its half of the fifth. Carson Phillips tied the game at 6 on a passed ball before Pattterson stroked a RBI single to right field to take a 7-6 lead.

The Bobcats broke the game open with three runs in the sixth and three more in the seventh to open up a 13-6 lead.  Boone had a two-run single to center and Blake Bellflower drove home another run on his sixth-inning single back up the middle.  Carson Vick was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the seventh and Phillips added a sacrifice fly.

GCSU collected 15 hits in the win. Phillips and Boone also tallied three hits apiece, while Patterson drove in four and Book had three RBI.

Bennett (1-2) recorded his first win with five solid innings of relief. He scattered six hits and two walks as he allowed just one earned run. He also fanned four.
 

About GCSU Athletics 
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.  Read Full Article