AMERICUS - Hits were hard to come by for the Georgia Southwestern State University baseball team on Wednesday evening at Hurricane Stadium. GSW was held to five, two of which came in the ninth inning of a 6-1 loss to Southern Polytechnic State University.
GSW drops to 3-8 while Southern Poly, ranked 17th in the latest NAIA coaches' poll, improves to 7-3.
Southern Poly scored what would prove to be the game-winning run in the first inning. Khirus Ware belted a two-out triple to score Dalton Martinez and on the next play scored off a Tyler Garner single.
The visiting Hornets pushed across a pair of insurance runs in the third and added two more in the seventh.
GSW put together back-to-back hits to open the ninth inning and Neal Chambless eventually scored the Hurricanes lone run on a fielder's choice.
Starter Lance Shelton (1-3) took the loss for the Hurricanes. Shelton pitched for one inning and surrendered four hits and two runs. Myles Gay followed with 1 1/3 innings of relief before making way for Zach Smith who chewed up the most innings for GSW. Smith tossed 5 1/3, held SPSU to one earned run, walked one and struck out three. Earl Dupree pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
SPSU brought five pitchers to the hill. Starter Colton Kinnamon threw the opening three frames before Cole Goodwin (1-0) held GSW scoreless and hitless for two innings. Troy Herterick, Blake Barrow and Brantley Burton covered the final four innings.
The Hurricanes did not have a batter finish with multiple hits.
Martinez and Ware notched three hits apiece to lead SPSU. Ware was a home run away from hitting for the cycle and he collected three RBIs. Martinez scored three times.
GSW resumes Peach Belt Conference play on Saturday with a doubleheader at Armstrong Atlantic State University. First pitch for Game 1 is set for 11 a.m.
