ST. AUGUSTINE –
Ashton Thomas' fly out to center field was just enough to score
Trey Newland from third base to end the game and give Flagler College a 5-4 win in 11 innings over Georgia Southwestern State University in a Peach Belt Conference baseball game Saturday afternoon at Drysdale Field.
Flagler snapped a three-game losing streak to improve to 19-23 overall and 12-9 in the Peach Belt. Georgia Southwestern had its three-game winning streak ended as they dropped to 17-22 overall and 12-9 in conference play.
Newland got the inning started with a one-out single to right field.
Mason Gray followed with a double down the left field line, which almost scored Newland. He rounded the bag at third, but had to put on the breaks as the throw had come into the infield.
John Fiorenza was intentionally walked to load the bases. That's when Thomas lifted a 0-2 pitch to center field. The throw to the plate was on line and the catcher had the ball, but Newland's slide helped dislodge the ball and he was able to crawl back to tag the plate to end the game.
The Saints scored four runs in the first inning and got half of those on
Matthew Burke's two-run double.
But the Hurricanes scored two runs in the fifth and added an unearned run in the sixth to pull to within a run.
In the eighth inning, Miles Hartsfield hit a solo home run to right field that hit the top of the fence and went over.
Dylan Faulkner (2-4) tossed two scoreless innings in relief to earn the win.
Gage Voorhees started and hurled 4 2/3 innings with four strikeouts.
Davian Garcia and
Ryan Ayrey worked in relief.
Newland collected three singles and scored two runs for Flagler. Gray hit a pair of doubles and
Jaiden Warde singled twice, drew a walk, and scored a run.
Brandt Sundean (0-2) took the loss in relief for Georgia Southwestern. He allowed one run on three hits in 4 2/3 innings of work.
Gregory Wozniak hit three consecutive singles and scored a run. Hartsfield went 2-for-5 with a home run and he scored two runs. Tyler Skelton singled twice and scored a run while Anthony Angelino finished with a pair of base hits. Garrett Bradley picked up a couple of singles and drove in a run.
Flagler faces NCAA Division II newcomer, and former NAIA rival, Edward Waters University on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Drysdale Field.
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