Chargers suffer series sweep by Wabash Valley College

The 12th-ranked Georgia Highlands Chargers were swept in a three-game series this past weekend at the Rome Braves’ Advent Health Stadium in Rome by 8th-ranked Wabash Valley College from Mt. Carmel, Illinois. The visiting Warriors won both games Saturday 4-3 and 7-4 before taking Sunday’s game, 16-7.

Austin Slate had three hits and one RBI in Saturday’s first loss. Davis Newman (RBI), Bryson Stripling, Barrett Eldridge, Mitchell Walker, and CJ Blackwell added one hit apiece. Chargers’ starting pitcher Trey Baker went six innings and allowed just one earned run on two hits but the Warriors’ three late runs lifted Wabash to a win.

In Saturday’s second game, Wabash scored six runs in the top of the third to take control early. Georgia Highlands narrowed the margin to 6-4 after five innings but got no closer. Chargers’ catcher Conner Faulkner had two hits. Hudson Sapp, Jay Murdock, and Ryan Wideman (2 RBIs) added one hit each.

Sunday, the Warriors never trailed after taking an early 3-0 lead on their way to a 16-7 victory. Georgia Highlands produced 13 hits in the loss but Wabash scored 12 runs across the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings.

GHC’s Murdock was 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs. Parker Poteet also had three hits and one RBI. Bryson Stripling finished with two hits including a double and one RBI. Five other Chargers — Bryant Herring (RBI), Zayd Brannigan, Sapp, Slate, and Wideman (RBI) added one hit apiece in the loss.

Georgia Highlands (8-4) will play four more games in Rome this Friday and Saturday. The Chargers will play Wallace State-Hanceville at 2 p.m. and Chattahoochee Valley CC at 5 p.m. Friday. Then square off with Chattahoochee Valley again Saturday in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.