Gatlin's 12th-inning walk-off homer lifts Chargers

April 23, 2025

Georgia Highlands baseball went back-and-forth with the Andrew College Tigers Tuesday before escaping with a walk-off 13-12 win in the bottom of the twelfth inning.

The lead changed hands or the score was tied nine times as the teams combined to rattle off 26 hits, including four home runs.

Wyatt Gatlin hit two home runs, including a walk-off homer in the 12th inning.

Georgia Highlands trailed 1-0, led 4-1, trailed 6-4, led 9-6, trailed 10-9, tied the score at 10-all, trailed 12-10, knotted the score again at 12-all, and walked off with a 13-12 win on Wyatt Gatlin’s line drive homer to right field to lead off the bottom of the 12th inning.

The Chargers used six pitchers, and Heath Whitlock picked up the win by working a spotless top of the 12th inning. Gavin Webster (3 IP, 6R, 5ER, 2H, 5BB, 1K) started on the mound for GHC. Nickolaus Kane (5 IP, 0R, 5H, 1BB, 8K), Hunter Ward (1 IP, 4R, 2ER, 3H, 2BB, 1K), Garrett Goblish (1 IP, 2ER, 2H), and Jackson Greer (0R, 1H, 0BB, 1K) worked in relief.

Ali Banks paced the Chargers’ offense with four hits, including two doubles and two RBI. T Phillips contributed three hits, including one home run and five RBI. Gatlin hit two home runs and had three RBI. Grayson Godbee (double, two RBI), Andrew Bishop (double, RBI), Whitlock, and Caden Marcos added one hit.

The loss dropped the Tigers to 28-20 overall and 10-13 in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association standings. 

Georgia Highlands (38-10, 17-7) has its magic number for clinching the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament down to two. The Chargers lead Gordon College by three games in the conference standings. Any combination of GHC wins and Gordon College losses totaling two gives the Chargers the top spot in the tournament.

The Chargers host East Georgia State on Thursday at 3 p.m., entertain South Georgia State for a doubleheader on Tuesday, and wrap up the regular season on Thursday, May 1, at home against Gordon College.