FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, February 16, 2009
Contact: Robert Preston, Jr.,
912.260.4276
robert.preston@sgc.edu
Tigers take 2 of 3 from USC-Salkehatchie
Two solid pitching performances, one each by James Hickey
and Ryan Whiddon, propelled the South Georgia College Tigers to a pair of
wins in a three-game weekend series against the Indians of USC-Salkehatchie.
The two teams played a wet double-header Saturday afternoon at Crider Field,
and followed with one more game on Sunday afternoon. The Tigers lost game
one of the double-header 10-3, then rebounded to win game two 3-1. Sunday,
SGC won 7-2.
Game one got off to a rocky start for the Tigers. SGC committed three errors
in the top of the first inning, and allowed three runs to score. SGC held
the Indians scoreless until the fifth inning, when four Indian hits scored
three runs. In the top of the sixth, USC-Salkehatchie scored four more. The
Tigers scored one run in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings.
Starter Greg Fietsam (1-2, 4.24 ERA) lasted 4 2/3 innings. He allowed six
runs (three earned) on nine hits. He struck out three Indians. Michael Baker
threw 2 1/3 innings in relief, giving up four runs on four hits.
Stuart Drew saw his season-long hitting streak come to an end in game one.
However, he reached base twice on USC-Salkehatchie errors. Drew also scored
two runs. Justin Roberts was 2 for 4 with a run scored. The Tigers committed
seven total errors in the game.
Thankfully, game two was a different story. Starter James Hickey (2-0, 5.19
ERA) controlled the Indians from the first inning. He threw a masterpiece,
going 6 1/3 innings and allowing just five hits and one run. Justin Newsome
recorded the final two outs for the save, his second of the year.
The Tigers scored a run in the first, fourth and fifth innings to build a
3-0 lead. In the top of the seventh, the Indians scored their only run of
the game.
Centerfielder Zach Kilday was 2 for 3 with one run scored. Drew was 1 for 2
with a run scored. Blake Jenkins scored the other Tigers run. Justin
Roberts, Brandon Collins and Lee Hall drove in runs for SGC.
In the final game of the series, the Tigers outslugged the Indians 7-2 on 14
hits. Starter Ryan Whiddon (1-1, 6.06 ERA) scattered eight hits over six
innings, but allowed just two Indians to score.
SGC scored a run in the first, second and sixth before breaking the game
open with four runs in the seventh. After Cole Anderson and Andrew Anderson
singled to start the seventh, Kilday bunted them over to second and third,
respectively. Drew then singled to score Cole Anderson. Drew stole second to
put runners on second and third with one out. Justin Roberts hit a fly ball
to center for out two. Andrew Anderson tagged and scored from third; Drew
stayed at second. Brandon Collins then hit a two-out double, which scored
Drew. Jamaal Smith followed with a double of his own, which drove in
Collins.
The Indians went quietly in the top of the seventh, giving SGC the 7-2 win.
Roberts was 3 for 4 with an RBI, Drew was 2 for 4 with two runs scored and
an RBI, Smith went 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored, and Lee Hall went 2
for 4 with a solo home run in the bottom of the second.
The Tigers are 7-6 on the season. They are off until Southwestern Illinois
Community College comes to town on Friday, Feb. 20. First pitch is scheduled
for 3 p.m. Saturday, the Tigers play Onley Community College (Illinois) in
Douglas at 4 p.m. SGC concludes a busy weekend of action Sunday with a 1
p.m. game against Central Florida Community College, also in Douglas.
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About South Georgia College
South Georgia College (www.sgc.edu)
was founded in 1906 and is a two-year institution in the University System
of Georgia. Located in Douglas, Ga., the college's environment gives
students exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and close
collaboration with faculty.
