Chargers win slugfest on Martin's walk-off home run to remain unbeaten at the NJCAA World Series

May 30, 2024

Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com

The Chargers celebrate outside their dugout following Ryan Martin's walk-off home run for a 15-14 win Wednesday night over Blinn College (Texas).

Designated hitter Ryan Martin hit a walk-off, two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning Wednesday night to lift the Georgia Highlands Chargers to their third straight win at the 2024 NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado.

In a game full of offensive fireworks, 2nd-ranked GHC hit five home runs to edge 6th-ranked Blinn College (Texas), 15-14.

The slugfest saw the two teams combine for 29 runs, 29 hits, and seven lead changes.

Ryan Wideman had three hits including a homer, three RBI, and added two stolen bases.

Ryan Wideman gave the Chargers an early 1-0 lead with a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning, but the Buccaneers posted five runs in the top of the third to lead 5-1.

Georgia Highlands reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Chargers sent eleven men to the plate and scored seven times to grab an 8-5 advantage.

Blinn narrowed the GHC lead to 8-7 with two runs in the fifth and tied the game at 8-all with a run in the seventh.

The Bucs went back on top in the eighth inning with three runs for an 11-8 lead but the Chargers scored five in the bottom of the frame to lead 13-11 heading to the ninth inning.

Ryan Martin

Blinn scored three runs in the top of the ninth for a 14-13 lead before Martin’s blast in the bottom of the inning set off a Chargers’ celebration.

Shortstop Luke Orfi (home run, two RBI) and Wideman (home run, three RBI) paced the Georgia Highlands offense with three hits. Grayson Godbee and Martin (home run, two RBI) had two hits. Ali Banks (three RBI), Barrett Eldridge (three RBI), and Clay Wiesen (two RBI) added one hit. The Chargers also took advantage of seven walks.

Kyle Stephenson (1 IP, 2R, 1ER, 1H, 2BB, 1K) picked up the pitching win by completing the ninth inning on the mound. Five other Chargers pitched. Chandler Anderson (5 IP, 7R, 6ER, 8H, 4BB, 5K) made the pitching start for GHC. Brodie Chestnutt (1.1 IP, 1ER, 4H, 4K), Andrew Arnold (1.1 IP, 3ER, 3H, 1BB, 1K), Trace Horne (0.1 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB), and Hunter Ward (1 BF, 1ER, 1BB) also pitched.

Following Wednesday’s tournament action, only four teams remain. Georgia Highlands is the only remaining team without a loss in the double-elimination event.

Blinn (44-17) moves to an elimination game on Thursday (4 p.m.) against Florence-Darlington Tech (54-11).

Georgia Highlands (56-8) will play Northwest Florida State (39-14) who has won three straight elimination games after dropping their tournament opener to Southern Nevada this past Saturday. Thursday’s scheduled start time for the Chargers is 9 p.m. EDT.