Chargers suffer first loss, split DH with Wallace State-Hanceville

The Georgia Highlands Chargers lost for the first time this season Tuesday in a doubleheader split with Wallace State-Hanceville at LakePoint in Emerson.

The Chargers won the opener 6-5 for their seventh-straight win to open the 2021 campaign, but the visiting Lions won Game 2, 4-1 to hand GHC their initial loss of the year. In Tuesday’s opener, Georgia Highlands scored four times in the bottom of the fourth to take a 4-0 lead only to have the Lions respond with five runs of their own in the top of the fifth. A two-run bottom of the fifth for the Chargers closed out the scoring and relievers Garrett Sagro (1.1 IP, 0R, 1H, 1BB, 2K) and Steven Thompson (0.2 IP) closed out the final two frames for a one-run win.

Catcher David Smith had two hits including a triple, a double, and one RBI for the GHC offense. Palmer Sapp tripled home two runs in the fourth. Joe Sutton, Trenton Parker (RBI), and Brandon Prince (RBI) had the other Chargers’ base hits. Trace Twardoski got Georgia Highlands on the scoreboard first in the fourth inning with a sacrifice fly.

Starting pitcher Chase Townsend (4.2 IP, 4ER, 3H, 2BB, 2K) earned his second win of the season on the mound. Cason Rich (0.1 IP, 1ER, 2H) allowed a home run, but retired the final out of the fifth inning on the mound for Georgia Highlands.

In Game 2, the Lions’ Jayce Guyette smacked a first inning, two-run home run that gave Wallace State-Hanceville a lead they would not relinquish. Mason Walker singled home a run in the third and Jarren Wright did the same in the fourth for the Lions’ four runs.

GHC scored a lone run in the bottom of the fourth on a Sapp sacrifice fly, but the Chargers would get no closer.

Jacob Smith (4 IP, 1ER, 2H, 4BB, 5K) earned the pitching win for the Lions. Hunter Goodwin (3 IP, 0R, 4H, 3K) closed out the final three frames for the visitors.

Ryan Suppa (3.1 IP, 4ER, 7H, 2BB, 2K) suffered the pitching loss for the Chargers. Caleb Garner (3.2 IP, 0R, 3H, 5K) pitched in relief. Parker Poteet had three hits for Wallace State-Hanceville including a double.

Six different Chargers — Connor Todaro, Twardoski, Parker, Harmon, Sapp, and Smith — had one hit apiece.

Georgia Highlands (7-1) will host a three game series with Lincoln Trail College (IL) Friday and Saturday at LakePoint. The opener is set for Friday at 3 p.m. and the two teams will play a doubleheader Saturday starting at 1 p.m.