Chargers build on conference lead

Georgia Highlands College baseball won all three games with South Georgia State Thursday and Friday at LakePoint in Emerson to strengthen their hold on the top spot in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association standings.

GHC, currently ranked 11th in the nation, won 14-11 Thursday and captured both games of Friday’s doubleheader 11-2 and 14-7.

The Chargers pounded out 14 hits Thursday with Zayd Brannigan, Ben Olson, and Caden Smith each hitting home runs. Parker Poteet finished with a three hit performance that included a double.

Hunter Goodwin, one of seven pitchers employed by Georgia Highlands in the game, picked up the win. Caleb Garner, Ryan Suppa, and Chandler Wood each worked a scoreless inning with Wood collecting a save.

In Friday’s doubleheader opener, Chargers’ pitcher Zachary Murray earned the win with a seven inning, complete game performance. He fanned ten while scattering four hits and a walk. The two South Georgia State runs allowed were unearned.

The GHC hitters — David Smith, Poteet, and Brannigan — combined for six hits and six RBIs in the 11-2 victory.

In Friday’s second game, Olson went 5-for-5 with a pair of home runs, a double, and eight RBIs to pace the Chargers’ offense. Ethan Anderson tripled twice and drove in one run. Conner Todaro finished with two hits including a double and one RBI.

Eric Moore (4.2 IP, 7ER, 7H, 2BB, 8K), Suppa (1.1 IP, 0R, 1H, 1K), and Chandler Wood (1 IP, 0R, 1H) pitched for GHC.

Following the series sweep, South Georgia slips to 26-15 overall and 7-5 in conference play.

Georgia Highlands (35-3, 11-1) moves on to a four game conference series next week with Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. The Stallions visit LakePoint for a single game Tuesday and GHC will travel to Tifton for the final three games. The two teams will play a single game Friday evening and a doubleheader Saturday.