Chargers sweep Darton Sunday to split opening conference series

The Georgia Highlands Chargers swept an important doubleheader Sunday in Albany to split a four-game conference series with the Darton College Cavaliers.

Georgia Highlands won 7-5 and 5-4 Sunday after dropping the first two games of the series, 5-2 and 11-3.

In Sunday’s first game victory, Daniel Gooden, Brandon Bell, and Brandon Etheridge combined for seven hits. Gooden and Drew Davis drove in two runs apiece, and Zach McCrum, Jonathan White, and Tristan Roberts added one RBI each.

The Chargers took a 4-0 lead early and pushed their lead to 6-2 before the Cavaliers struck for three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. GHC added an insurance run in the sixth and held on for a two-run win.

Colby Taylor (1 IP, 0H, 0R, 1BB) was credited with the pitching win in relief of starter Bryan Quillens (4.2 IP, 3ER, 7H, 0BB, 6K). Will Griffin pitched the seventh inning, walked one, allowed one hit, but struck out the side for a save.

In Sunday’s second game, Georgia Highlands took a 5-0 lead in the third frame and held on for a 5-4 win.

The Chargers made the most of five hits. Davis homered and doubled, Etheridge (triple), McCrum, and Mitch Burger had the other base hits.

Casey Collins (5 IP, 1ER, 5H, 1BB, 3K) started and picked up the pitching victory. Colby Taylor and Sam Sowerbrower got the Chargers through the sixth inning and Griffin (1 IP, 2ER, 3H, 0BB, 2K) added another save in the seventh.

Georgia Highlands (17-15, 2-2 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association) plays at East Georgia CC March 29 and hosts EGCC April 1-2.