East Georgia completes series sweep of Georgia Highlands
East Georgia State completed a four-game series sweep of Georgia Highlands Saturday by winning a twin-bill with the Chargers at LakePoint in Emerson.
The visiting Bobcats won 2-1 in extra innings in Saturday’s first game and took the second game, 13-10.
The results of Saturday’s games all across the conference helped determine the four teams that have qualified for the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association. Unfortunately for Georgia Highlands, the Chargers will not make the tournament. East Georgia continues to lead the conference standings with one week remaining in the regular season.
South Georgia, Gordon College, and ABAC will join East Georgia in the GCAA playoffs.
Game 1 of Saturday’s doubleheader went to an eighth inning scoreless. East Georgia scored twice in the top of the inning for a 2-0 lead and Georgia Highlands managed a run, but came up short in the bottom of the eighth for a 2-1 loss.
Both starting pitchers went the distance. Rhett Gay (8 IP, 1ER, 5H, 1BB, 5K) picked up the win for East Georgia. Drew Wilson (8 IP, 2ER, 5H, 0BB, 6K) suffered the loss for Georgia Highlands.
Nathan Fancher led East Georgia’s offense with two hits. He also drove in the two runs in the eighth.
Cameron Hearn had two hits for the Chargers. Skylar McPhee, Nick Piccapietra, and Bryson Horne added one hit each. Joey Demasi drove in the Georgia Highlands’ run in the eighth.
In the second game, the Chargers raced to an early 7-2 lead before East Georgia began chipping away.
The Bobcats scored four runs in the top of the fourth and six in the fifth inning to lead 12-9. Both teams added a single run in the seventh for a 13-10 final score.
Both teams utilized three pitchers. Case Matthews (3 IP, 1ER, 4H) picked up the win for East Georgia with middle relief. Tyler Sellers (4 IP, 8R, 3ER, 6H, 3BB, 4K) started for the Chargers followed by Skylar McPhee (1.2 IP, 5ER, 3H, 3BB, 1K) and Travis Kuebler (1.1 IP, 0ER, 1BB, 1K).
Nathan Fancher and Drew Haywood combined for six hits including three homers and nine RBI to lead the Bobcats.
Zach Miller and Austin Foster had three hits and one RBI each for Georgia Highlands. Bryson Horne (2 RBI), Nick Piccapietra, and Skylar McPhee (RBI) contributed two hits apiece.
East Georgia has now won 11 of 12, improved to 29-14 overall, and is now 22-5 in GCAA play. The Bobcats lead South Georgia by two games in the conference with three to play.
Georgia Highlands (28-22, 11-17) will conclude the season Tuesday afternoon at South Georgia and next Saturday afternoon at home against Andrew College.
