Chargers lose twice to Tartan Pride
The Georgia Highlands College baseball team was swept in a doubleheader Saturday at LakePoint by visiting Sinclair State (OH) in the final two games of a three-game series.
The Chargers won the series opener Friday night 6-3, but the Tartan Pride won Saturday 8-7 and 7-5.
Sinclair State scored seven runs in the first three innings of Saturday’s first game and although the Chargers mounted a challenge, they still fell by a run.
Brandon Henson, Colin Shepherd, and Trevor Hafner combined for six hits, six RBIs, and three runs scored in the top three spots of the Tartan Pride order.
Matt Vaccro had a thee-hit game that included a homerun, a double, and two RBIs for Georgia Highlands. Bronco O’Brien (HR, 2 RBIs), Jake Ferentinos, Josh Kiser (RBI), Brandon Bell (double, RBI), and John White had the other Chargers’ hits.
In the second game, GHC and Sinclair State swapped the lead back-and-forth before the Tartan Pride prevailed 7-5 in 13 innings.
Aaron Harlamert singled home the game-winning run for Sinclair State in the top of the 13th. Austin Elmore followed the go-ahead run with an insurance run RBI single and the visitors held on for a two-run win.
Henson had three hits in the second game with a run batted in for Sinclair State. Blaze Glenn had two RBIs and walked twice in a 1-for-3 plate performance.
White had three hits for the Chargers, including a double and a triple. Nick Fink was 2-for-4 with a pair of walks. Bell hit a two-run homerun in the second inning. Caleb McElwaney, Nick Piccapietra, and Devin Bilardello had the other GHC hits.
John Cheatwood, the fourth pitcher used by the Tartan Pride, worked scoreless relief innings in the 11th through the 13th frames to pick up the pitching win.
Britt Buckelew (2 IP, 2ER, 2H, 1BB, 5K) was saddled with the pitching loss for the Chargers who worked six pitchers.
This was the opening series of the 2017 season for Sinclair State. The Saturday sweep gives them a 2-1 mark for the year.
Georgia Highlands (6-8) hosts a doubleheader with Roane State CC (TN) Tuesday at LakePoint at 3pm. The Chargers will then host Cuyahoga CC (OH) for single games Friday and Saturday and will play a pair of games against Macomb CC (MI) on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.
