MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga | The University of South Carolina-Aiken used an early lead to narrowly escape Georgia College & State University's late comeback 8-6 in a Peach Belt Conference baseball game Sunday (April 19) at John Kurtz Field.
The Bobcats fell to 18-25 overall and 11-16 in the PBC, while the Pacers improved to 33-13 overall and 19-8 in the PBC. GCSU concludes its final homestand of the season with a non-conference match-up against Emmanuel (Ga.) University Tuesday (April 21) at 5 p.m.
The Bobcats commemorated nine seniors - Keagan Baxter, Jake Beaver, Rand Bestermann, Evan Cowan, Carson Phillips, Owen Thomas, Bryson Whited, and Blake Wood -Â in its Senior Day festivities prior to the contest.
The Pacers broke out early in the first, as Yariel Diaz drove in Evan Harding on a sacrifice fly and Salvatore Laimo singled in Chancellor Jennings for a pair of runs. Jennings later collected an RBI for himself in the second to make the contest 3-0.Â
Bestermann drove in the first run for GCSU on an RBI single to score Blake Bellflower in the second. However, the Pacers plated three in the third on a wild pitch and a pair of singles from Osmin Melendez and Harding. Maverick Grisby drove in Laimo for an unearned run in the fourth to give USC Aiken a six-run lead (7-1).Â
Carson Vick got the Bobcat offense going in the fifth, driving in Bestermann on a single, and Phillips followed up with a consecutive RBI-base knock. Luke Boone doubled in Phillips and Vick right after, and GCSU cut the deficit to two to conclude the fifth.
Laimo singled in Blake Martin for insurance in the top of the sixth, yet Cowan grabbed the run right back in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly.
GCSU brought the winning run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth, but could not bring the tying or winning run around.
Myles Chabi (5-2) pitched two and two-thirds innings of one-run baseball out of the bullpen for USC Aiken, striking out two. Gavyn Seitz (1-2) struggled through his two and two-thirds innings, giving up six runs. CJ Lincoln sealed the deal for the Pacers, collecting his fourth save over two innings of work.Â
Boone's two doubles were the only extra-base hits for the Bobcats, while Vick and Phillips were the two other Bobcats with multi-hit performances.Â
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.
