MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – Georgia College used a four-run fourth inning to break open a 7-all tie and went on to defeat Flagler College 14-7 and salvage the rubber game of the three-game series Sunday afternoon at John Kurtz Field.
Georgia College improved to 4-6 overall and 1-2 in the Peach Belt. Flagler fell to 4-5 overall and 2-4 in conference play. The Saints took the series 2-1.
The Bobcats scored early and often with a six-run first inning and added another in the second to take a 7-2 lead.
The Saints mounted a comeback in the third inning by plating four runs with the help of an RBI double by
Kolin McMillen and a run-scoring single by
James Jean which cut the Flagler deficit to one run, 7-6.
Flagler came all the way back from that six-run deficit to tie the game at 7-all on
Josh Pagliei's lead-off home run in the fourth inning.
However, Georgia College did its damage again, but this time in the fifth. Logan Mattix belted a two-run pinch hit home run and Brandon Purcell hit a two-run single.
The Bobcats added single tallies in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings.
Bryce Bush (1-0) tossed 3.2 innings in relief to earn the win for Georgia College. He escaped the carnage by scattering four hits, allowing one run and striking out three.
Matthew Miller paced the 16-hit attack by going 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, two runs batted in and two runs scored. Tanner Giesel went 2-for-5 with a grand slam in the first inning and he finished with five RBI.
Michael Hanke (0-1) was one of seven pitchers used by Flagler and took the loss on the hill. He tossed two innings and allowed three hits and four runs.
Bryce Evans was a perfect 5-for-5 with four singles and a triple. He scored one run.
Igor Baez went 3-for-3 with a double, a home run, two runs scored and two RBI. McMillen had a single and a double to go along with a run scored and another driven in. Jean went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
Flagler will host Nova Southeastern University in a three-game series starting on Friday (Feb. 26) at 6 p.m. at Drysdale Field.
