Chargers win series opener at ABAC

Georgia Highlands baseball bounced back from a one-sided loss to East Georgia CC Saturday afternoon at LakePoint to even the Chargers’ conference record with a 9-5 win Wednesday night at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton. Georgia Highlands started fast to take a 5-0 lead into the fourth inning. ABAC scored three runs across the fourth and fifth innings, but GHC maintained a 6-3 advantage heading to the eighth.

The Chargers added three runs in the top of the ninth to secure the win and held on for a four run victory. Georgia Highlands starting pitcher Zach Fordham (3.2 IP, 1ER, 4H, 1BB, 5K) was credited with the win. Skylar McPhee (1.1 IP, 2ER, 1H, 2BB, 2K), Brant Brown (2.2 IP, 1R, 0ER, 2H, 1BB, 6K), Logan Ward (1 IP, 1ER, 0H, 7BB) worked in middle relief. Ryan Smithson was called on to strike out the final ABAC batter and earned a save.

McPhee had a 4-for-4 day at the plate with a double, triple, walk and two RBIs. Malik Spratling (photo) hit a pair of solo home runs. Parker Orr homered and had three RBIs. Hunter Moody (double, 2 RBIs), Bryson Horne, and Blake Brady added one hit apiece.

Georgia Highlands (13-8, 1-1 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association) completes a four-game series with ABAC this weekend at LakePoint with a single game Friday at 5 p.m. and a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m.