Chargers offense powers past Hawks

Georgia Highlands College baseball swept a conference doubleheader Saturday at East Georgia winning 11-4 and 10-7. Although the Chargers remain unranked in the national JUCO polls, Georgia Highlands did receive votes in last week's poll and will give poll voters some more things to consider after another 4-0 week.

The Chargers never trailed in the opening victory but overcame a 6-0 deficit in the second game by scoring ten runs over the final four frames.

Johnny Dow tossed a nine inning complete game in the first game. The Lassiter High School product scattered 11 hits and a walk while striking out six. Only one of the four runs against him were earned.

The Chargers banged out 15 hits including three home runs.

David Smith had three hits to lead the GHC offense in Game 1 with a a walk, home run, and two RBIs included. Joe Sutton homered and drove in two with a pair of hits and Gavin Harmon finished with a pair of hits including a home run and two RBIs. Brandon Prince doubled twice and drove in one run. Palmer Sapp contributed two hits and one RBI and Connor Todaro also had a two hit game.

In the second game, East Georgia led 6-0 through three innings and 7-2 through four frames, but the Chargers responded by scoring eight times in the fifth through seventh innings to pull our a 3-run win.

Four pitchers worked Game 2 for Georgia Highlands including Ryan Suppa who collected the win in relief.

Suppa took care of the final three innings allowing only one hit and one walk while fanning six.

The Chargers produced a dozen hits, led by Ben Olson who went 3-for-4 including a three-run home run. Todaro had two hits and one RBI. Prince (double, 2 RBIs), Trace Twardoski (2 RBIs), Sutton (double, RBI), Palmer Sapp (RBI), Smith, Harmon, and Max Kops added one hit each.

East Georgia falls to 22-15 on the season and 7-9 in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association.

Georgia Highlands (34-6, 13-3) stays on top of the GCAA standings and has a pair of conference doubleheaders this week with South Georgia State CC.

The Hawks will host Tuesday in Waycross and the Chargers will host Saturday at LakePoint in Emerson.