Chargers advance to conference championship
Ethan Anderson’s three run home run in the second inning vaulted Georgia Highlands to an early lead Wednesday afternoon and the Chargers went on to defeat South Georgia State 8-4 in third round action of the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association championship tournament at LakePoint in Emerson.
Anderson also tripled in the fourth inning and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Caden Smith.
David Smith blasted a two run homer in the fifth inning and Ben Olson added a solo shot for the Chargers who out hit the Hawks eight to seven.
Georgia Highlands led 7-0 through five innings and added one more run in the sixth on an RBI double by Zayd Brannigan. South Georgia’s two runs came in the top of the sixth and top of the eighth.
Starter Zachary Murray (5 IP, 2ER, 3H, 3BB, 3K) earned the pitching win for the Chargers with five innings on the mound. Caleb Garner (3 IP, 2R, 0ER, 4H, 2K) worked three innings of middle relief and Hunter Goodwin (1 IP, 0R, 0H) retired all three batters he faced to close out the ninth.
The win advances Georgia Highlands (44-9) to the championship round Thursday at 1 p.m. needing just one more win over South Georgia State to capture the GCAA title.
South Georgia (37-19) bounced back later in the day Wednesday by defeating ABAC 9-1 in eight innings to also qualify for the conference championship round. The Hawks must defeat the Chargers twice Thursday to win the tournament.
