AMERICUS, Ga. -- The Georgia Southwestern baseball team was awarded the top seed in the Peach Belt Conference baseball tournament. The Hurricanes were the second of two games on Friday night defeating eighth-seeded Augusta University 11-4.
The Jaguars gave the Hurricanes a scare in the top of the first inning when Kyle Lodise led off the game with a home run to center field that gave the Jags the early 1-0 lead.
GSW as always answered back in the bottom of the inning thanks to a three-run home run from Reid Ragsdale which gave the Canes the momentum boost after a tough first inning.
The Canes did not think three runs were enough and of course who other than Ragsdalde hit an RBI single that brought home Miles Hartsfield right fielder Garrett Bradley joined in on the fun on an RBI single that scored Ragsdale that gave the Canes the 5-1 lead.
A sixth run was added by the Hurricanes on a Cory Lee RBI groundout in the bottom of the fourth inning and it seemed all hope was lost for the Jaguars.
Augusta proved anything could happen in the tournament Lodise hit a two-run home run in the top of the fifth and thanks to two GSW errors the Jaguars pushed across another run that saw the Hurricanes lead dwindle to just two runs.
Like two heavyweight fighters, the Canes answered back in the bottom of the inning on a Chris Patterson RBI single the Canes led 7-4 at the end of the fifth.
After a scoreless top of the 6th GSW added four runs on an incredible play an inside-the-park grand slam from Patterson that sealed the game and the Jaguars lost any remaining momentum they had left. The grand slam was the final run scored in the game as the Hurricanes will advance to the second-round winders bracket of the PBC tournament.
Peach Belt Conference pitcher of the year Nick McCollum battled the entire game throwing 140 pitches logged seven innings and earned his ninth win of the season. Colby Gordon was outstanding in relief throwing a scoreless two innings helping the Hurricanes advance to the winner's bracket.
GSW will face off against first-round winner Columbus State at 12:00 pm on Saturday from Hurricane Stadium.
