Chargers slip to fourth in conference
Georgia Highlands lost both games of a conference doubleheader with South Georgia State CC Saturday at LakePoint in Emerson.
The Tigers won the first game 9-6 and the second game 2-1 to win three of four in the week-long Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association series.
In Saturday’s game one, the Chargers led 4-1 after three innings, but South Georgia used a five-run fourth inning to take a 6-4 lead. Both teams added a run in the sixth and the Tigers added two more in the top of the seventh for a 9-5 lead. GHC threatened in the bottom of the frame, but the Tigers got out of a bases loaded jam for the 9-6 win.
Brandon Etheridge had two hits and scored two runs for Georgia Highlands in the loss. Brandon Bell (solo HR), Zach McCrum, Jonathan White (RBI), Mitch Burger (RBI), and Joel Munoz (RBI-double) had the other Chargers’ hits.
Bryan Quillens started and pitched into the fourth for GHC. Sam Sowerbrower (2 IP, 3ER, 8H, 0BB, 2K) suffered the pitching loss in middle relief. Chris Morton (1.2 IP, 2R, 1ER, 2H, 1K) also pitched for the Chargers.
In the second game, Georgia Highlands led 1-0 going into the sixth inning of a seven-inning game, but South Georgia State scored twice on four hits to take a 2-1 lead that would be enough.
The Chargers run in the second inning resulted from a one-out single by White and a single by Trenton Nutter that included an outfield error allowing White to cross the plate.
Will Lane pitched a complete game five-hitter to earn the win on the mound for the Tigers. He struck out two with no walks.
Casey Collins (5.2 IP, 2ER, 3H, 1BB, 5K) pitched well in the loss. Colby Taylor (1.1 IP, 0R, 2H, 1BB) recorded the final four outs for the Chargers.
Bell (double), Etheridge (triple), White, Nutter, and Devin Bilardello had the Chargers’ hits.
With the wins on Saturday, South Georgia State kept pace with conference leading Darton College. SGSCC (26-17, 11-5) now trails Darton by one-half game in the conference standings. Georgia Highlands (23-21, 8-8) is currently fourth in the GCAA. The Chargers play Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in next week’s conference series. ABAC comes to LakePoint in Emerson Tuesday for a 5:30pm start. The final three games of the series will be Friday night and Saturday in Tifton.
