AMERICUS, Ga. –
Bryce Evans' three-run home run in the third inning of the first game helped Flagler College gain a split in a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader at Georgia Southwestern State University Saturday afternoon at Hurricane Stadium. The Saints won the opener 10-3, but the Hurricanes hung on to win 4-2 in the second game.
Flagler is now 23-16 overall and 11-12 in the Peach Belt. Georgia Southwestern is now 20-21 overall and 4-19 in conference play.
In the opener, with the Saints leading 1-0 and runners at first and second, Evans belted a home run to give Flagler a commanding 4-0 lead.
The Saints added four more in eighth inning with the help of a two-run single by
James Jean and a two-run double by
Jake Hathaway.
Jean added a two-run double in the ninth.
Mike O'Reilly (6-3) tossed 6.2 innings and scattered seven hits. He allowed three runs, walked a batter and struck out nine.
Jean led the Saints offense going 2-for-5 with the double, four runs batted in and he scored a run.
Bobby Bassler collected a pair of singles and scored a run.
Jordan McIlwain (4-4) took the loss for the Hurricanes as he lasted seven innings and allowed four runs on four hits. He walked two and struck out five.
Devyn Newberry went collected three singles and scored two runs. Alex Kranick singled twice and drove in two runs.
In the second game, Flagler trailed early 2-1 but managed to tie the game in the eighth inning when pinch hitter
Igor Baez singled home Hathaway.
But in the bottom of the eighth, Flagler reliever
Luke Cooksey (4-1) hit Brett Burgess who led off the inning and then gave up a double to Will Redding. Another hit batter loaded the bases and then Brandon Weaver grounded out to short to score Burgess with the go-ahead run. Newberry followed by singling home Redding for an insurance run.
Mitch Holloway (3-3) picked up the win in relief as he tossed two innings and allowed one run on three hits. He struck out two batters. Kyle Spinks started and last five innings. He scattered six hits, allowed one run, walked four and fanned five.
Redding went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a run scored and he drove in a run. Newberry singled twice and he knocked in a run. Burgess scored a pair of runs.
Cooksey tossed 2.2 innings in relief and allowed two runs to score on three hits.
Michael Maiocco started and he tossed five innings. He surrendered three hits, one earned run, walked four and fanned four.
Nick Oberg collected two singles and he stole two bases. Hathaway singled twice and scored both Flagler runs. Evans singled twice.
Flagler stranded 11 runners in the game and hit .214 (3-14) with runners in scoring position.
The same two teams will meet in the rubber game tomorrow (April 17) at 1 p.m.
