Bobcats Sweep Two From Pirates On Sunday

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - The No. 27-ranked GCSU baseball squad completed a Peach Belt Conference series sweep of visiting Armstrong Atlantic State by taking two games on Sunday at John Kurtz Field in Milledgeville. The Bobcats edged the Pirates in game one, 7-6, in 10 innings, then took game two, 7-2.

The Pirates (6-6, 0-3 PBC) looked like they would take game one when they took a 5-2 lead into the eighth inning against the Bobcats (9-4, 3-0 PBC), but GCSU loaded the bases against AASU starter Cody Walden and picked up a two-RBI double by Brooks Robinson and a two-RBI single from Matt Pitts to take a 6-5 lead into the ninth.

Carlos Cardoza-Oquendo led off the top of the ninth with a double, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Kenny Cail to tie the game at 6-6 and send it into extra innings. The Bobcats won it in the bottom of the 10th inning when Robinson led off with a double, then scored on an RBI single by Chandler Snell.

AASU closer Brandon McCreery (0-3) took the loss for the Pirates, giving up the winning run in 1 1/3 innings of work. Walden pitched eight innings, giving up 10 hits and six runs, but was not involved in the decision. GCSU's Martin Dewald (3-1) picked up the win in relief, giving up one run in two innings pitched.

The Pirates took an early lead in game two as well, scoring twice in the top of the third on an RBI double by Josh Wilson and an RBI single by Alex Wyche, but that would be all the offense AASU could muster as GCSU scored seven unanswered to win, 7-2. Clete Jessup (1-0) picked up his first win of the season for the Bobcats, going seven innings and giving up seven hits and two runs, walking one while striking out seven. Thomas Gray (2-1) took the loss for AASU, giving up eight hits and six runs - five earned - in five innings pitched despite striking out nine.

Wyche led the Pirates offensively with five hits in the doubleheader, including a 3-for-3 game in game two. Derek Johns led the Bobcats, also collecting five hits in the doubleheader, while also stealing three bases.

The Pirates return to action on Saturday, February 28, with a Peach Belt Conference contest against Francis Marion at 2:00 p.m. at Pirate Field.