Chargers drop series opener with Bobcats

March 27, 2024

Third-ranked Georgia Highlands College baseball lost 17-12 Wednesday in a high-scoring shootout at home against East Georgia State College. 

The Chargers led 7-0 after just two innings but the visiting Bobcats scored two runs or more over the next five innings to stake a 16-9 lead. Georgia Highlands posted three runs in the bottom of the eighth to narrow the margin to 16-12 but EGSC added an insurance run in the ninth to close out their conference win.

Georgia Highlands utilized eight different pitchers in the loss with Andrew Arnold (1 IP, 2ER, 2H, 1BB) tagged with the loss in relief of starter Oliver Wood (4 IP, 7R, 4ER, 7H, 1BB, 3K). Brodie Chestnutt (0.1 IP, 4ER, 4H), Kyle Stephenson (0.2 IP, 1ER, 1H, 1BB, 2K), Logan Spivey (0.2 IP, 2ER, 0H, 3BB), Trace Horne (0.1 IP, 0R, 1H), and Reece Robertson (1 IP, 0R, 0H) also pitched.

Barrett Eldridge had a big day at the plate for GHC with three home runs, four hits total, and six RBIs. Three other Chargers — Davis Newman (double, two RBIs), Ryan Wideman (double, RBI), and Ali Banks had two hits. Ryan Martin (solo HR) and Will Cawthon (double) contributed one hit. Luke Orfi and Grayson Godbee drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

Georgia Highlands (31-4, 3-2) and East Georgia State (23-12, 1-3) will continue their conference series this weekend with a single game on Friday and a doubleheader on Saturday in Swainsboro.