Chargers split conference doubleheader with Andrew College

Max Kops doubled to lead off the bottom of the ninth in Tuesday evening’s second game and Connor Todaro drove him in two outs later with a line drive single to help Georgia Highlands earn a doubleheader split with Andrew College at LakePoint, 5-4.

After dropping the opening game 9-6, the Chargers trailed early in the second game 3-0 heading to the bottom of the fourth.

A two-run homer by Trace Twardoski and a solo shot by Palmer Sapp got GHC back into the game, 3-3.

The Tigers regained their lead 4-3 in the fifth but Sapp tied the game again in the sixth with a sacrifice fly.

Matthew Silka (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 1K) picked up the pitching win for the Chargers by working a scoreless ninth inning. Chase Townsend (4 IP, 3ER, 5H, 4BB, 3K) started and worked the first four innings. Caleb Garner (4 IP, 1ER, 5H, 4K) worked middle relief through the eighth inning.

In the opener, the Chargers’ defense committed four errors that led to eight unearned runs in a 9-6 loss to the visiting Tigers.

Andrew led 5-2 through the first four innings and extended the lead to 7-3 in the seventh. GHC’s Joe Sutton hit a two-run home run in the first inning to account for the early Chargers’ runs. Todaro singled and later scored on a wild pitch in the fifth inning and Sapp cut the Andrew lead to 7-4 with a solo home run in the eighth. Both teams posted two runs in the ninth inning. Sutton drove in a run for the Chargers with a sacrifice fly and David Smith singled home Todaro who had four hits in the game.

Conner Perry (6.1 IP, 7R, 1ER, 12H, 2BB, 7K) started on the mound and suffered the pitching loss despite allowing only one earned run. Zack Valentine (2.2 IP, 2R, 0ER, 1K) closed out the final two and two-thirds innings.

The split leaves Andrew with a 22-13-1 record overall and 7-5 in conference play.

Georgia Highlands is now 29-5 overall and 8-2 in the conference.

The four-game Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association series continues Saturday with a doubleheader in Cuthbert.