AMERICUS - Georgia Southwestern fought its way back from a three-run deficit and never looked back as the Hurricanes defeated Thomas University (Ga.), 12-6, on Wednesday evening in non-conference baseball action.
GSW doubled up Thomas in runs and hits, as the Hurricanes belted 18 hits to the Night Hawks nine. Michel Coffey and Corey Benson had four hits apiece to lead the assult. The Hurricanes hit .470 (8-for-17) with runners in scoring position.
With the win, the Hurricanes improve to 25-19 overall. Thomas falls to 18-24.
GSW took the early lead with a run in the first inning. Coffey and Andrew Archer belted back-to-back two-out doubles to put the 'Canes ahead 1-0.
TU quickly responded with four runs in the second behind four hits and a GSW throwing error.
The two sides proceeded to swap a run apiece over the next three innings.
Trailing 5-2 in the fifth, Coffey and Archer went back to work. Coffey started with a two-out double to bring home Stephen Gaylor. Archer followed with a two-run single to left that brought around John Duran and Coffey.
After TU pushed a run across in the sixth, GSW put the game out of reach with six runs in the bottom of the frame. Paschal Poston, Gaylor and Coffey tallied RBIs for the Hurricanes. GSW hit back-to-back-to-back singles twice in the inning.
The Hurricanes tacked on a run in the eighth when Archer plated Coffey, who had tripled one at bat earlier, with a ground out.
GSW starting pitcher Cameron Blinn did not factor into the decision. Blinn pitched the opening three innings, allowed four runs - two earned - on five hits, with two strikeouts and a walk. Hunter Thompson followed with an inning of relief before Matthew Suggs (4-0) picked up the win in two innings of action. Suggs allowed two hits and one run. Stephen Daneman tossed two scoreless innings and Gray Carden threw a scoreless ninth inning.
Thomas relief pitcher Skyler Sopotnick (2-3) took the loss after being tagged for five runs - four earned - in one inning. The Night Hawks used four pitchers in the ballgame.
Coffey finished 4-for-5 with two doubles, a triple, two RBIs, four runs scored lead GSW at the plate. Benson went 4-for-5 and scored twice. Gaylor, Duran, Archer and Poston had two hits apiece. Archer drove in four.
Mike Lane and John Cervantes collected two hits apiece to lead Thomas.
The Hurricanes return to action on Friday when they host 6th-ranked Francis Marion at 6 p.m. in Game 1 of a three-game weekend Peach Belt Conference series.
