Six run eighth costs Chargers as Gordon State evens series
Gordon State erupted for six runs in the bottom of the eighth to break open a tie game and defeat the visiting Georgia Highlands Chargers Thursday afternoon in Barnesville, 9-4.
Georgia Highlands scored two runs in the top of the first to take an early lead, but the host Highlanders matched those runs in the bottom of the third.
GHC again took the lead with a run in the fourth before Gordon State tied the game 3-3 in the sixth inning.
The Highlanders’ six run damage in the eighth started with Dane Bullock’s second home run of the day. The eighth inning two-run homer gave Gordon a 5-3 lead. He also hit a solo shot in the sixth inning to knot the score at the time.
Two hit batsmen, a pair of singles, and a double added four more runs in the decisive inning for the Highlanders as they evened the four-game series at one game each.
Jonathan Robinson picked up the pitching win for Gordon State by working the final two frames in relief of starter Cory Bartholomew.
GHC’s Cody Johnson (1 IP, 2ER, 1H, 1BB, 2K) was assigned the loss in relief of starter Matt Norton (2.2 IP, 2ER, 2H, 4BB, 1K) and Travis Kuebler (3.1 IP, 1ER, 2H, 4K). Brady Barker (0.0 IP, 3ER, 1H) and Kevin Barham (1 IP, 1ER, 2H, 2K) also pitched for the Chargers.
In addition to Bullock’s four-RBI day for Gordon State, Datren Bray and Brian Moore both contributed a pair of hits and one RBI each.
Georgia Highlands out hit Gordon State 12 to 8, but lacked the timely hits to drive in runs.
Austin Foster went 3-for-4 for the Chargers and Willis Kemp finished the day 2-for-5. Parker Orr drove in two runs and had one hit. Skylar McPhee (double), Cameron Hearn (RBI), Brandon Allen, Spencer Lewis, Bryson Horne (RBI), and Zach Miller added one hit apiece.
Georgia Highlands (21-9, 7-4 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association) will return to Barnesville Saturday for a doubleheader to wrap up the week’s four-game conference series.
Gordon State improved to 18-13 overall and 4-3 with Thursday’s win.
