Four-run eighth lifts Chargers to eleventh win

The Georgia Highlands Chargers struck for four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning Wednesday to beat visiting Cleveland State CC at LakePoint, 8-4.

Relief pitcher Ryan Smithson picked up the win on the mound with two spotless innings in the eighth and ninth innings. He did not allow a base runner and struck out two in recording the final six outs for GHC.

Jacob Ryan started on the mound for the Chargers and went five innings. Jakob Brown (0.0 IP, 2ER, 2BB), Stevie Szucs (0.1 IP, 2R, 1ER, 3BB, 1K), and Hunter Moody (1.2 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB, 1K) also took the mound for Georgia Highlands.

With the game tied 4-4 heading to the bottom of the eighth, the Chargers took advantage of a pair of walks, three hits, and a sacrifice fly to take control by plating four runs. Palmer Sapp singled home the go-ahead RBI and Mickey Maguire singled home two more later in the frame. Lavoisier Fisher’s sac fly drove in the game’s final run.

Georgia Highlands led 4-0 through four innings before Cleveland State tied the game with a four-run sixth inning.

David Smith singled home Fisher in the first inning for the Chargers’ early lead. Gavin Harmon doubled and later scored on a wild pitch in the second inning. Maguire then gave GHC a 3-0 lead with an RBI single to score Sapp. The Chargers’ fourth run came in the fourth inning when Maguire singled home Omar Daniels. Daniels had tripled to start the frame.

Maguire finished 4-for-5 with four RBI at the top of the Chargers’ lineup. He also stole a base. Harmon finished the day with a pair of doubles.

Georgia Highlands (11-3) is scheduled for a doubleheader with Lake Land College (Illinois) Friday starting at 10:30 a.m. The Chargers will also host a doubleheader with Three Rivers College (Missouri) Sunday starting at 2 p.m. All four games will be at LakePoint in Emerson.