LIVINGSTON, Ala. – After dropping two decisions on Saturday by a combined score of 13-7, Coach Bryan McLain and the Georgia Southwestern Baseball team were looking to get one notch on their belt before leaving West Alabama University (3-4). Despite scoring two runs in the opening inning, the Hurricanes would be unable to secure the victory as they lost to the Tigers 4-3 on Sunday afternoon.
The Georgia Southwestern batters were red, hot and rolling in the first inning. The first two batters of the game would single, which set-up back-to-back RBI's by Andrew Archer and Michel Coffey. The early 2-0 headstart would last until the third inning when West Alabama would score two runs off of a D.J. Turo double and a B.J. Smith single.
The Blue & Gold would get an answer immediately in the next inning as shortstop John Duran drove in his infield mate Blane Parker as GSW would go up 3-2. The lead would last three innings until back-to-back fielding errors by the Hurricanes would cough up the lead. Two West Alabama runners would score on the errors, which gave them the 4-3. The one-run difference would holdup as the Tigers would claim the game by the score of 4-3.
Frank Ambrosino would pitch well in response to his rough start the week earlier against Barry. The Tampa, Florida native would finish the afternoon after six innings. He would give up five hits, two earned runs and two walks while striking out five. The junior's work was all for not as he would end the game with a no-decision.
Ambrosino would actually go tit-for-tat with his West Alabama counterpart. The starting Tiger pitcher, Taylor Bratton, would also go six innings, but surrendered more hits (7) and the same amount of earned runs (2).
The Hurricanes would go 0-3 on the weekend while striking out 33 times over the three games. The strikeout total was skewed by the 18 strikeouts GSW hitters had in game one of the series. The Blue & Gold were also charged with nine errors over the three games.
Sunday's loss makes it four straight losses for the Hurricanes and puts their overall record at 1-5. The Blue & Gold will have a mid-week match-up at Valdosta State on Wednesday, February 15th at 5 p.m. It will be the appetizer to the entre of PBC play the following weekend. The Canes will head northeast for a three-game weekend series with the UNC Pembroke Braves. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday (1 p.m. and 4 p.m.) before ending the series with one game at 1 p.m.
