Chargers drop weekend series with Volunteer State
Georgia Highlands baseball lost for the first time this season Friday but split a doubleheader with Volunteer State at LakePoint.
The Chargers then dropped an 11-9 final on Saturday to VSCC as Georgia Highlands dropped their first series of the season. The visiting Pioneers took the opener in the twinbill Friday 9-4 with the Chargers winning the second game 8-3.
Georgia Highlands led in the first game 3-0 Friday through five innings before Volunteer State scored seven in the sixth inning to take the lead for good.
Jaden Lasley (7 IP, 4ER, 9H, 1BB, 5K) picked up the pitching win for the Pioneers with a complete game effort. Isaac Gleeves and Travis Faix combined for four hits and seven RBI that included a Gleeves home run. Dalton Bradford (1.2 IP, 5ER, 4H, 2BB, 2K) suffered the pitching loss for the Chargers in relief of starter Ethan Underwood (5.1 IP, 4R, 3ER, 4H, 0BB, 9K). Gavin Harmon had two hits including a solo home run for GHC. Lavoisier Fisher and Trace Twardoski also had two hit games. In the Chargers’ Game 2 win Friday, Johnny Dow (6 IP, 3R, 2ER, 6H, 0BB, 8K) earned the pitching win and Stevie Szucs (1 IP, 0R, 1H, 0BB, 1K) closed out the final frame. David Smith doubled, homered, and finished with five RBI to pace the Georgia Highlands offense. Joe Sutton also drove in two runs with a hit and a sacrifice fly. Saturday, GHC took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning but Volunteer State regained the lead in the next frame and went on the lead 11-4 after eight innings. The Chargers rallied for a five-run ninth, but came up short in a two-run loss. Starting pitcher Conner Perry (5 IP, 5R, 3ER, 7H, 1BB, 2K) suffered the loss. Hunter Moody (1.1 IP, 2ER, 2H, 2BB, 1K), Mason List (0.2 IP, 0R, 0H), and Levi Ayers (2 IP, 4R, 0ER, 3H, 5K) also pitched. Palmer Sapp (4 RBI) and Joe Sutton (RBI) both finished with two hits including a home run for the Chargers in the loss. Bam Thomas and Trace Twardoski also finished with two hits. The Chargers (6-2) are scheduled to host a doubleheader with the Bryan College JV Tuesday at 3 p.m. and will entertain visiting Lincoln Trail CC Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s doubleheader starts at 1 p.m. and Sunday’s single game is set for a 12 noon first pitch.
