GHC splits doubleheader with Tartan Pride

Skylar McPhee homered, doubled, and drove in two runs while Dalton Rhadans tossed eight solid innings to lead Georgia Highlands College past Sinclair College (OH) in the opening game of a Saturday afternoon doubleheader at LakePoint. The visiting Tartan Pride bounced back in the second game, however, to out-hit the Chargers nine to three in a 5-3 Sinclair win to earn a doubleheader split.

In Game 1, Georgia Highlands scored four times in the first four innings and held that 4-0 lead until Sinclair posted its only run in the top of the eighth. The Chargers added three more insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth to take a commanding lead. The run support was more than enough for Rhadans (8 IP, 1ER, 7H, 1BB, 9K) who picked up his third win of the season. Logan Ward (1 IP, 0R, 0BB, 2K) took the mound in the ninth to strike out two in a shutout inning and earned his fourth save.

Blake Brady and Lavoisier Fisher singled home runs in the second inning for the Chargers. Brady doubled home another run in the third and McPhee hit a solo home run in the fourth inning.

McPhee (photo) doubled home the first of three GHC runs in the eighth. Parker Orr drove in the final two runs with a line drive single to left field.

Despite managing only three hits in Game 2, the Chargers stayed close.

Sinclair led 2-1 after one inning and 3-2 after three frames. The Tartan Pride added single runs in both the seventh and eighth innings while the Chargers scored only one more run in the seventh on an Orr solo shot.

Ethan Underwood (5.1 IP, 3ER, 4H, 2BB, 5K) suffered the pitching loss for Georgia Highlands. Anthony Reneo (0.2 IP, 0R, 2BB), Trace Twardoski (1.2 IP, 2ER, 4H, 3BB, 2K), and Brady Barker (1.1 IP, 0ER, 1H, 1K) each worked in relief for the Chargers.

Orr finished the doubleheader with three hits that included a homer and three RBI. McPhee doubled, homered and had two RBI. Brady contributed two hits including a double and two RBI. Fisher had two hits and one RBI along with three stolen bases. Malik Spratling also had a two hit day.

Next for Georgia Highlands (11-6) is a home game with Cleveland State CC (TN) Tuesday at 3 p.m. at LakePoint.