AIKEN, S.C. – Georgia College & State University
erased a 5-1 deficit to upset second-seeded and host USC Aiken 12-8
in the first round of the PBC Tournament on Thursday. The Bobcats
(33-22) scored eight unanswered runs in the fifth and sixth innings
to pull away, although USCA cut that lead to one in the eighth.
With the win, GCSU moves on in the winners bracket to face North
Georgia at 11:00 am while USC Aiken will play an elimination game
against Armstrong Atlantic State at 7 p.m.
USC Aiken (43-14) put up the first runs of the game in the second
inning as Ken Raborn led off with a solo home run. Gary Asbill
later singled to drive in Jamie Benjamin.
GCSU answered with a run in the top of the third on with an RBI
single from Sean Harrell that scored Nathan Martin. Martin reached
base after being hit by a pitch from USCA starter Scott Wandless
(L, 8-2), one of five hit batsmen for both teams in the game.
USCA seemed to take control in the fourth with three runs as Chris
Grandinetti brought home the first on an RBI fielders choice. David
Vitko had the big blow two batters later with a two-run home run
over the right field fence to make the score 5-1.
That score held until the top of the fifth when GCSU scored four
unearned runs courtesy of three USCA errors. After Chandler Snell
and Martin both reached on errors, Sean Harrell collected an
infield single to start the scoring. Pete Paris then brought in two
more with a single to right followed by a Derek Johns groundout to
score Martin from third.
GCSU tacked on four more in the top of the sixth. Matt Pitts
singled with one out, then stole second on a close call. Following
a pop out, the Bobcats put together three hits, the last a two-run
home run by Harrell.
Down 9-5, USCA tried to rally themselves with a run in the bottom
of the sixth and two more in the eighth. The first run in the
eighth was delivered on a solo home run by Chad Jacobsen, who also
scored the run in the sixth on a wild pitch. Benjamin’s RBI
single made the score 9-8, but that would be as close as the Pacers
would get.
GCSU closed out the game with three runs in the top of the ninth,
the first coming off the rare triple-steal. With two outs and the
bases loaded, Pitts took off for second base and was quickly caught
in a rundown. Pete Paris, on third after leading off the inning
with a double, broke for home and USCA tried to pick him off there,
but the throw was wide and all three runners were safe. Snell then
singled through the right side to bring home the other two runners
and provide the final score.
GCSU used a platoon of pitchers, sending six arms to the mound in
the game, none for more than 2.2 innings. Jay Clark (W, 4-1) got
the win after going 1.1 innings and allowing only one hit. Michael
Newman picked up his 10th save of the season with 2.2 innings of
relief work.
Brooks Robinson and Harrell each collected three hits for GCSU,
Harrell driving in four and scoring twice. Paris, Snell and Martin
also each had multiple hits, with Paris and Martin driving in two
each.
Nick Aranas led USCA with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate, scoring
once. Benjamin was the only other Pacer to collect more than one
hit as he went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI.
Boxscore
Game Quotes:
USC Aiken Head coach Kenny Thomas
- Opening Statement – I think we took 12 or 13 days off and
we forgot how to play, we completely forgot how to play the game. I
don’t know how many errors, but mental errors one after
another. Not to take anything away from Georgia College because
they played their hearts out. They outplayed us all over the field,
they came to play baseball and we didn’t. We walked through
the motions.
- On his team’s play today: I really think our guys thought
they could just go out there and win. Georgia College is a good
team, they wouldn’t be here if they weren’t a good
team. They came to play, they had plenty of opportunities to quit,
but they didn’t, they didn’t quit. They made up there
minds they’re a team of desperation and they knew what
they
had to do.”
Junior Ken Raborn:
- On the team’s fielding today: “Like coach said we
weren’t there mentally. I think we were all there physically,
but not mentally. I don’t know if it was inexperience or
what, but we have to fix something. Georgia College came out to
play, but if there was anything else we could do to give them the
game please tell me. It was a poor performance.”
- What you do to turn it around tomorrow night: “You just go
home and get refocused. That’s all you can do. Obviously no
one is happy that we lost, but we can’t carry on the momentum
from today tomorrow. You go home, erase it, and win the rest of the
tournament.”
GCSU Head coach Tom Carty
- Opening Statement: “There is no such thing as an ugly win.
A win is a win for us. We had trouble in the regular season hitting
Scott, he struck out 15 against us. I think our offensive guys did
a great job just battling trying to wear him down. Got a run or two
early on and kept the pressure on. Pitching we just survived, it
wasn’t pretty but we survived.”
- On the team’s defense, compared to USC Aiken’s: We
made enough plays and obviously made more plays than they did. That
might have been the difference in the game.”
- On being the hungry team and maybe needing it more: “We
certainly know what we are up against. Our team knows and I
didn’t try to mislead them. I feel like we need to be here
Sunday to give ourselves a shot to get into the regional. We are a
team this year that has to fight and claw.”
Brooks Robinson
- On the team’s demeanor down 5-1: “Never a situation
you want to be in, but it was still early and we knew we were
swinging the bats well enough to put up some runs. We just wanted
to play good defense and stay confident
the rest of the game. We have a sense or urgency.”
Michael Newman
- How much did it help getting the insurance runs in the top of the
ninth: “It always helps a lot late in the game to get extra
runs, especially after giving up a couple.”
- On the rest of the tourney and chances to win: “Of course
we believe we can do it. We have to come out every day, hit the
ball, pitch well, and play defense behind, and we can beat
anybody.”
Baseball
About the PBC
