Big inning tops Georgia Highlands

West Georgia Tech batted around and scored six runs in the seventh inning Wednesday afternoon in Carrollton as the Golden Knights defeated Georgia Highlands 8-5 in a GCAA conference tilt.

Three singles, an error, a walk, and two hit batsmen generated the rally for West Georgia Tech who trailed 3-2 going into the seventh, but headed to the eighth leading 8-3.

The visiting Chargers scored a pair of runs in the eighth, but it was not enough.

Both teams produced seven hits in the game.

Zach Miller had two hits including a double and two RBI for Georgia Highlands. Skylar McPhee had two hits. Cameron Hearn, Parker Orr (RBI), and Willis Kemp (RBI) added the other Chargers’ hits.

Seven different Knights had one hit each. Jacob Warren finished with two RBI.

Jacob Henley (0.1 IP, 3R, 2ER, 1BB) was tagged with the pitching loss for GHC in relief of starter Matt Norton (6 IP, 5R, 3ER, 6H, 1BB, 4K). McPhee (0.2 IP, 0R, 1H) and Dalton Bradford (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB) also took the mound during the final two innings for the Chargers.

Austin Smith (4 IP, 2R, 1ER, 3H, 3BB, 3K) was the winning pitcher for WGTCC in relief of starter Avery Smith (5 IP, 3R, 2ER, 4H, 5BB, 4K).

West Georgia Tech improved to 14-21 overall and 5-10 in Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association games.

Georgia Highlands (23-11, 9-6) slipped to third place, 2.5 games back of conference leader East Georgia CC with the loss. The Chargers host Gordon State in a conference matchup Friday night at LakePoint at 6 p.m.