FLORENCE, SC – After surrendering six runs in the top of the ninth to fall behind 10-9, the Georgia Southwestern State Hurricanes scored one in the bottom of the ninth and another in the 10th to defeat Columbus State 11-10 in an elimination game of the PBC Tournament on Thursday.
With the win, the Hurricanes (20-28) advance in the elimination bracket and will play again on Friday at 1:30 pm against the loser of Wednesday night's North Georgia/UNC Pembroke game. Columbus State sees their season come to a close with a 29-21 record.
Will Redding provided the game-winning hit in the 10th. With Zach Barron on first after reaching on an error, Redding laced a line drive to right. The ball got past the CSU outfielder and rolled away, allowing Barron to come all the way around with the winning run and be mobbed at home plate.
GSW thought the celebration would start earlier as they took the field in the top of the ninth with a five-run lead, but relief pitcher Mitch Holloway walked the bases loaded, then hit a batter to bring across the first run. CSU's Jamal Howard then delivered a pinch-hit double that brought home two more. Tyler Fichter then doubled off the glove of the GSW first baseman to tie the game at nine.
CSU went ahead as Justin Evans brought home Fichter with a sacrifice fly. In all, the Cougars sent 10 players to the plate in the inning, scoring the six runs on two hits.
Matt Hubbard (W, 2-1) got the win for GSW after giving up no runs in the top of the 10th. Robert Hays (L, 1-1) took the loss, facing only three batters in the game. Dylan Brown got the start for the 'Canes, going 6.1 innings on 128 pitches with four earned runs and two strikeouts. CSU starter Brandon Koehler lasted four innings, allowing five earned runs and striking out one.
Kranick finished 5-for-6 with a double and an RBI, becoming the seventh player in league history with five hits in a tournament game. Evan Alderman was 4-for-4 with an RBI while Jared Jones went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs. Moore finished with four hits and Dakota Long had two RBIs.
Four Cougars finished the game with multiple hits, led by Fichter's 3-for-4 effort. He finished the game with two doubles, two RBIs and three runs scored. Mason McClellan was 3-for-5 with two doubles and a pair driven in while Grant Berry was 2-for-4 and Bryce Delevie 2-for-5.
Article provided by the Peach Belt Conference