Chargers build early lead in win at ABAC

The Georgia Highlands College baseball team jumped out to an early lead Tuesday night at Abraham Baldwin College and held on for a 10-7 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association win.

The Chargers went up 7-1 in the top of the third inning and led 7-3 through eight innings, only to add three more runs in the ninth for a 10-3 lead.

ABAC rallied for four runs in the bottom of the ninth and had the potential tying run at the plate with two outs, but Britt Buckelew was called in from the bullpen and induced a ground out to end the threat.

Devin Bilardello was 3-for-5 for the Chargers. Matt Vaccaro, Bronco O’Brien, and Brandon Bell had two hits and one RBI each. Caleb McElwaney (2 RBIs), Nick Piccapietra (2 RBIs), John White (RBI), Grant Bodison (RBI), and Nick Fink (RBI) had hits.

Jake Lovvorn started on the mound for GHC and allowed a run on three hits and three walks. Tyler Sellers yielded a pair of runs on a walk and four hits in an inning and one-third.

Sam Sowerbrower picked up the pitching win with four and two-thirds innings on the mound. He allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks. David Hussey retired two outs in the ninth before Buckelew entered to get the final out and a save.

The loss dropped ABAC to 22-25 overall and 5-12 in the GCAA.

Georgia Highlands (31-14, 8-5) will host ABAC for the remainder of their four-game conference series this week. The two teams play Friday night at 6pm at LakePoint in Emerson and will square off in a doubleheader Saturday at 1pm at LakePoint.