Georgia Highlands falls at conference leader

Conference leader Gordon College pounded out 17 hits Tuesday in Barnesville to cruise past visiting Georgia Highlands 13-3 in the first game of a four-game series this week between the two GCAA rivals.

The Chargers cut Gordon’s lead to 4-2 in the fourth inning, but the host Highlanders scored five runs in the fifth, two in the sixth, and two more in the eighth inning to pull away.

Jason Fointno and Sam Sly combined for seven hits and four RBIs to pace Gordon College at the plate. Three more Highlanders — Cole Phillips who homered, Jay Pendley, and Sam Kuchinski — added two hits apiece. The Chargers managed only four hits in the loss — a home run by Skylar McPhee, a triple by Trace Twardoski, and singles by Bryson Horne and Hunter Moody. Georgia Highlands’ starting pitcher Zach Fordham (2 IP, 4ER, 2H, 5BB, 2K) suffered the loss after only going two innings. Levi Ayers (2.1 IP, 3ER, 4H, 1BB, 1K), Brady Barker (1.2 IP, 4ER, 6H, 1K), Ethan Underwood (1 IP, 0R, 1H), and Casey Thurmond (0.1 IP, 2ER, 4H) all pitched in relief for the Chargers. Gordon College improved to 22-4 overall and 5-1 in GCAA action. Georgia Highlands (18-11, 6-4) will host the final three games of the series with a single game Thursday and a doubleheader Saturday.