AUGUSTA, Ga. — If there were any questions about who would take control of Sunday's rubber game,
Johnny Nutt answered them quickly.
And emphatically.
Behind seven dominant innings from the reigning two-time Peach Belt Conference Freshman of the Week, Georgia Southwestern rolled past Augusta University 12-1 in seven innings to secure the weekend series and move near the top of the PBC standings at 7-2.
The Hurricanes improve to 12-7 overall, while Augusta slips to 11-8, 7-2 PBC.
In Control
Nutt (3-0) was surgical.
The southpaw scattered five hits across seven innings, allowing just one unearned run while striking out six. Augusta managed only one walk and grounded into three double plays as Nutt consistently worked ahead and induced weak contact.
This spring against league opponents, Nutt has held hitters to a .167 batting average with a 1.29 ERA — both ranking second in the Peach Belt Conference.
On Sunday, there was little doubt why.
Fast Start Sets the Tone
The Hurricanes wasted no time backing their Game 3 hurler.
Drake Harman and
Kelsen Johnson opened the game with back-to-back singles, and
Josh McDonald drove in the first run with a groundout.
Evan Wainman followed with an RBI single, and
Edwin Melendez ripped a run-scoring double to center as GSW jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning.
An inning later,
Jacob Reeves tripled and scored on Harman's RBI groundout to stretch the advantage to four.
By the time Augusta scratched across an unearned run in the fourth, GSW was firmly in control.
The Fifth-Inning Knockout
The decisive blow came in the fifth.
After loading the bases,
Drew Reaves drew a walk to force in a run. Then
Caleb Gipson stepped in and crushed a grand slam to left field, blowing the game open at 10-1.
It was Gipson's third home run of the weekend — one in each game of the series — and capped a monster stretch for the junior center fielder.
Gipson finished the weekend 5-for-12 with nine RBIs and five runs scored. He has now reached base safely in all 19 games this season and has recorded multiple hits in four of his last five contests.
Adding On
The Hurricanes weren't done.
In the sixth, McDonald delivered an RBI single and Wainman added a sacrifice fly to push the lead to 12-1. Wainman finished 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while McDonald added two hits and two RBIs of his own.
Harman went 2-for-5 with a pair of RBIs, and Reaves reached base three times and scored twice.
GSW totaled 12 runs on 12 hits, walking five times and consistently applying pressure.
Statement Made
After splitting the first two games of the series, the Hurricanes left no doubt Sunday.
Nutt controlled the mound. The lineup delivered in waves. And in a matchup between two teams jockeying for early conference position, Georgia Southwestern walked away with momentum.
Next Up
The Hurricanes travel Auburn University at Montgomery on Tuesday for a 6 p.m. EST contest.
