Six homers sink Chargers as Walters State advances to JUCO World Series

May 13, 2026

Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com

Andrew Bishop hit a three-run home run in the top of the first inning on Wednesday, giving the Chargers an early lead. Photo: Russell Andrews

Walters State Community College (TN) hit six home runs on Wednesday, including three by third baseman Holden Pantier, to power past and eliminate the Georgia Highlands College Chargers, 9-6.

The Senators' win, combined with Tuesday's 12-4 victory over the Chargers, clinched the NJCAA Appalachian District best-of-three series and sent Walters State to the 2026 NJCAA World Series. It also marked the second consecutive season in which the Senators have eliminated Georgia Highlands in the postseason.

Major Osbolt earned the pitching win for Walters State and improved to 8-1 on the season with a six- inning start. He allowed six runs (four earned) on seven hits and two walks, while striking out three. Sam Martell pitched the final three shutout innings to earn a save, striking out five.

Braxton Wade (2. 2.2 IP, 4 R, 3 ER, 8 H, 2K) was charged with the loss for GHC in relief of starter Noah McMahon (2. 2.1 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 2K). Jack Burns struck out two and faced the minimum, working from the sixth through the eighth innings.

Cartersville product and GCAA Player of the Year, Aidan Larkin, had two hits in the Chargers' loss on Wednesday. Photo: Russell Andrews

Georgia Highlands batted first in the second game of the series at Bentley Field on Wednesday and struck first with Andrew Bishop's three-run homer. Walters State responded with five runs across the first three innings for a 5-3 lead. Home runs by Miles Shore, Luke Graham, and two by Pantier built the lead.

The Chargers regained the lead at 6-5 in the top of the fifth with three more runs. Aidan Larkin had an RBI single, and two more GHC runs scored when Mason Moore reached on an infield error.

The Senators didn't back down. Drew Blalock homered in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game. An error and a fielder's choice pushed across another run, and Pantier' s third homer of the game gave Walters State a 9-6 lead in the bottom of the sixth.

Kenton Collier collected three hits for Georgia Highlands. Aidan Larkin (RBI) and Caden Marcos each had two hits. Bishop (three- run homer) and Harper Davenport contributed one hit each.

The Chargers’ season concluded with a 47-15 record and a GCAA conference title.

Walters State (52-11) advanced to the NJCAA World Series, scheduled for May 23-29 in Grand Junction, Colorado.