The Albany State baseball team could not end their home season on a high note, as they were defeated by the Hurricanes of Georgia Southwestern, 19-9.
Albany State found themselves in a hole right away, as the Hurricanes got right to work in the first inning. Tyler Skelton got things with an RBI double that plated Miles Hartsfield, putting the Hurricanes up 1-0. Later in the inning, Reid Ragsdale drew a bases-loaded walk that brought home Skelton and put GA SW up 2-0. Garrett Bradley drew another walk that scored another run to build the lead to 3-0. A sac-fly from Hunter Foster and and single from John Austin Sutton scored runs four and five of the inning. Hartfield’s second time at the plate resulted in a RBI fly out to centerfield that scored Bradley and Skeleton’s second hit of the inning, this time a single to left field, scored the inning’s final run, making the score 7-0.
The Hurricanes would add four more in the bottom of third when Skelton got his third knock of the game, an RBI double to right field and Anthony Angelino would blast a two run homer to put Southwestern up 11-0..
Albany State would finally get on the board in the bottom of the third. Lavoisier Fisher reached on an error at first base, which allowed Tucker Jordan to cross home plate. Lachlan Ross’s single brought home the Golden Rams next two runs of the inning, making the score 11-3. A wild pitch would account for ASU’s next run and Nathan Lloyd’s RBI groundout plated their fifth and final run of the frame, leaving score at 11-5 heading into the top of the fourth inning.
GA Southwestern’s next score came in the top of the fourth when Matthew Mamatas literally took one for the team, as his bases loaded beaning brought Bradley home, giving them a 12-5 advantage.
Jordan’s single in the bottom of the sixth brought home the first of four Golden Rams runs in the inning. The other three came on a Quintard Wright fly-out and a Nathan Lloyd two-run single that drew Albany State to within three at 12-9.
The Hurricanes offense cranked back up in the top of the eighth, when they scored five runs. J.A. Sutton’s two-run single brought the score to 14-9. The last three runs were driven home via a Harrtsfield fly out and a Skelton two-run double to extend the GA Southwestern advantage to 17-9.
Gregory Wozniak’s solo home run and Garrett Bradley’s double in the top of the ninth brought the count to its final standing at 19-9.
Grant Adams (1-0) picked up the win for the Hurricanes, and Luke Jester (1-3) took the los for the Golden Rams.
The loss dropped Albany State to 25-11 ( 24-5, SIAC), while the Hurricanes are now 22-23 ( 15-9, Peach Belt).
Up next for the Golden Rams is a trip to Jacksonville, FL for a three-game series against Edward Waters. Game 1 is on Thursday, April 28, with the first pitch scheduled for 6:00 PM EST.
