Chargers split Friday doubleheader

Georgia Highlands baseball split a doubleheader with Lincoln Trail College Friday at LakePoint in Emerson dropping the first game 4-3 before shutting out the Statesmen in the second game, 4-0.

In the opener, Lincoln Trail scored three times in the top of the fourth to take a 4-1 lead. The Chargers answered back with two runs in the bottom of the frame but got no closer.

Hudson Sapp had two hits for Georgia Highlands including a double and two RBIs. Bryson Stripling doubled and added a sacrifice. Davis Newman drove in one run with a hit. Austin Slate and Parker Poteet had the other Chargers’ base hits.

Declan Dunn (3.1 IP, 4ER, 9H, 1BB, 2K) was tagged with the pitching loss. Zach Valentine (3.2 IP, 0R, 1H) retired the final 11 outs for GHC.

In Game 2, Trey Baker (5 IP, 0R, 2H, 1BB, 3K) and Cason Rich (2 IP, 0R, 0H, 2K) combined to blank the Statesmen. Baker started and picked up his second pitching win of the season. Rich earned his first save.

Sapp was 3-for-3 with a double and a walk at the plate. He drove in all four Georgia Highlands runs. Slate, Poteet, and Ryan Wideman had one hit apiece in the win.

The Chargers (6-1) have a home doubleheader Monday with Point University prior to hosting Cleveland State CC Tuesday afternoon. GHC will also host a three-game series with Wabash Valley Friday and Saturday at Advent Health Stadium in Rome. They will play a single game Friday afternoon and a doubleheader Saturday afternoon in the Rome Braves ballpark.