JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Georgia Southwestern third baseman Paul Sorrow belted a grand slam in the seventh inning to launch a nine-run frame and 15-5 victory for the Hurricanes at Trinity Baptist College on Tuesday afternoon in non-conference action. The game was called after eight innings due to the Hurricanes 10-run lead.
GSW finished with 20 hits for the second consecutive game. The Hurricanes have accounted for 50 hits over their last three contests. Southwestern won its fourth straight non-conference game and improved its overall record to 10-23 this spring while the Eagles, who entered Tuesday winners of three of four, fell to 12-18.
The Hurricanes trailed 3-0 in the fifth inning when they scored their first run of the game. Brett Burgess drove home pinch runner Josh Logan with a one-out single.
Trinity Baptist got that run back in the sixth and had GSW in a 4-1 hole heading to the seventh inning. That's when the Hurricanes came to life. Brandon Weaver and Evan Alderman opened the frame with back-to-back singles. Burgess reached on an error and consecutive RBI singles from Will Redding and Davey King preceded an error during Zach Barron's at bat that loaded the bases for Sorrow. GSW brought nine batters to the plate before the Eagles could record an out. The Hurricanes posted nine runs in the inning.
The first seven GSW batters reached base safely in the eighth inning en route to a five-run frame. The Hurricanes had four straight batters poke RBI singles.
Alderman led GSW's 20-hit attack with his second consecutive four-hit performance. Alderman went 4-for-6 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Burgess was 3-for-4, scored once and had three RBIs. Redding added three hits, a run and a RBI. Weaver and Jared Jones added two hits apiece.
Austin Wilson led TBC with a 3-for-4 afternoon. Wilson drove in a pair and scored once. T.J. Lanning and John Shiver added two hits apiece.
Hurricanes starter Mitch Holloway was charged with two runs over his 2 2/3 innings of work. Coty Graham relieved Holloway and allowed one run over 1 2/3 innings. Freshman Matt Hubbard (1-1) picked up his first collegiate victory with three solid innings of work out of the bullpen. Hubbard gave up one run and two hits while striking out two. Michael Ranieri pitched the eighth.
TBC trotted six pitchers to the hill. Luke Spaulding took the loss after surrendering four runs - one earned - during his 1/3 of an inning in the seventh.
Southwestern resumes Peach Belt Conference with Game 1 of a three-game series at Columbus State on Friday at 5 p.m.
