Chargers drop series opener to Walters State

Zach McCrum had a three-hit night, but the Georgia Highlands Chargers dropped an 11-7 contest to visiting Walters State CC Friday night at LakePoint in Emerson.

The visiting Senators opened a 6-0 lead in their first four frames and controlled the game from there.

McCrum reached base four times, scored twice, and had one RBI with a fourth inning homerun and singles in the seventh and ninth innings.

Jake Miednik recorded the win for Walters State on the mound. Kyle Wilson, Reed Hayes, and Weston McArthur led the Senators offensively by combining for five hits and three RBI. Wilson homered in the third.

The Chargers scored four times in the fifth on a two-run single by Andrew Cooley, an RBI triple by Brandon Bell, and an RBI single by Brandon Etheridge. The rally narrowed the GHC deficit to 9-5.

Walters State pushed the lead to 11-5 in the eighth before the Chargers answered with two of their own in the ninth that would not be enough. The ninth inning runs were sparked by a two-run Senators error.

Bryan Quillens suffered the pitching loss for Georgia Highlands. Sean Wilson, McCrum, and Bradley Hood saw mound time for the Chargers.

Highlands is now 5-2 following Friday’s loss and a Thursday doubleheader split with Chattanooga State CC. The series with Walters State continues with a Saturday doubleheader that begins at 1pm at LakePoint.