The Georgia Southwestern baseball team scored three runs in the eighth inning and pushed across the game-winning run in the ninth to take Game 1 of the weekend series with Lander, 6-5, on Friday evening at Hurricane Stadium.
GSW improves to 20-12 overall and 9-7 in Peach Belt Conference play. The 'Canes are 13-2 at home this season.
Both sides remained scoreless until the sixth inning. Lander scored a run in the top half of the inning and the 'Canes answered with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the frame highlighted by a Kevin Carroll leadoff double and Michel Coffey RBI single. Coffey would score later in the inning on a fielder's choice.
Lander regained the lead in the seventh inning with a two-run frame of their own.
After the Bearcats extended the lead to two with a run in the eighth, GSW rallied behind a two-run triple from Zack Stanton and a Trent Dooley RBI single to regain the advantage, 5-4.
Lander would not go away and the Bearcats tied the game with a run in the ninth.
Carroll belted his second leadoff double of the night to set the stage for GSW's walk-off victory. Literally.
After Carroll advanced to third on a wild pitch, LU intentionally walked the next to GSW batters to load the bases. Shane Doyle proceeded to draw a walk and the game was over.
Hurricane starter Ryan Lackey did not figure into the decision after a solid performance. Lackey pitched six innings, allowed one run - unearned - and scattered four hits while walking two and striking out six.
Chris Carroll (3-0) tossed three innings of relief and picked up the win. C. Carroll allowed two earned runs and four hits while walking three and striking out three.
Ben Runyon (2-2) entered the game with two outs in the eighth and suffered the loss for Lander after allowing two hits and one run.
Stanton and Dooley led GSW at the plate, each going 3-for-5. Stanton knocked in two; and Dooley had one RBI. K. Carroll and Jared Allen had two hits apiece.
The Hurricanes wrap up the series with Lander (20-16, 4-12 PBC) on Saturday with a doubleheader at 2 p.m.
