No. 27 Bobcats Use Two Dingers To Edge Pirates, 5-3

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - The No. 27-ranked Georgia College & State University Bobcats used two home runs to edge past visiting Armstrong Atlantic State on Saturday afternoon at John Kurtz Field, taking game one of a three-game Peach Belt Conference-opening series from the Pirates.

GCSU (7-4, 1-0 PBC) went ahead in the second inning as Brooks Robinson launched a two-run home run, giving the Bobcats an early 2-0 lead that it would never relinquish.

The Pirates (6-4, 0-1 PBC) scored its first run in the top of the fifth inning as Alex Wyche's RBI single scored Josh Wilson, making the score 2-1. The Bobcats moved back ahead by two in the bottom of the sixth on Steve Muoio's RBI single, scoring Buddy Elmore.

Carlos Cardoza-Oquendo's RBI single in the top of the eighth scored Bryan Roby and cut the lead to 3-2, but Pete Paris' solo home run and Chandler Snell's RBI fielder's choice stretched the Bobcats' lead back out to three, 5-2.

AASU scored a single run in the top of the ninth on Kenny Cail's two-out RBI double that scored Wyche, but Roby grounded to third to end the game and give GCSU the win.

Eric Pettepher (2-0) went seven innings, giving up seven hits and one run while striking out six to get the win for the Bobcats. Jeff Chase (1-2) took the loss for the Pirates, giving up seven hits and three runs in 5 1/3 innings pitched.

The two teams wrap up their three-game series with a doubleheader on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. in Milledgeville.