THOMASVILLE, Ga. - Georgia Southwestern scored four runs in the 10th inning to defeat Thomas University, 9-6, on Wednesday evening in non-conference baseball action at Varnedoe Stadium.
GSW had to push across a run in the ninth and hold Thomas in the bottom half of the frame to send the game into extra innings.
The Hurricanes improved to 9-20 this spring. Thomas fell to 14-15-1 overall. The Hurricanes have fared well against Thomas, leading the series 8-4, since joining the NCAA in 2006-07.
Evan Alderman and Brett Burgess opened the game with back-to-back singles for GSW and both scored three batters later on a Paul Sorrow two-run double to left field. The Hurricanes led 2-0 after the first and maintained their two-run edge until the fourth inning.
Thomas cut the GSW lead in half with a two-out, RBI double from Jeremy Crosby in the fourth.
The Hurricanes stretched their lead to 4-1 in the eighth inning with RBI singles from Zach Barron and Josh Tatnall but it took a GSW run in the ninth to force extra innings after the Night Hawks scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth to grab their only lead of the evening.
In the 10th inning, GSW quickly loaded the bases with a Barron single and back-to-back walks. Alderman brought home a run on his infield ground out and Josh Logan scored from third after a Thomas throwing error. Will Redding put the exclamation point on the Hurricane rally with his two-out, two-run single to left field.
Davey King led GSW batters with a 3-for-4 evening. King belted two doubles, walked twice and scored once. Barron added two hits and a RBI.
Casey Mannion was the lone Night Hawk with multiple hits on Wednesday. Mannion went 3-for-5 with three runs scored, a double and three RBIs.
GSW starting pitcher Coty Graham did not factor in the decision, but pitched well, holding Thomas to one run through four innings with three hits. Graham did not walk a batter and struck out two. Kyle Spinks relieved Graham and threw the next 3 2/3 innings before Michael Ranieri (2-1) picked up the victory with 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. Kyle Romstadt pitched the 10th.
Thomas used six pitchers in the ballgame. Starter Ben Overman tossed the first two innings, allowed two runs, walked one and struck out two. Justin Hicks and Neal Hunter each threw two scoreless innings. Kris Lee allowed two runs in two innings of work before Codey Conway surrendered the decisive run in the 10th. Tyler Krepps forced the final two GSW outs.
GSW returns to Peach Belt Conference play on Saturday with a trip to Lake Olmstead Stadium in Augusta, Ga., for a weekend series against Georgia Regents that starts at 1 p.m.
