FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, March 6, 2009
Contact: Robert Preston, Jr.,
912.260.4276
robert.preston@sgc.edu
Hickey, Collins lead SGC in win over Darton
The South Georgia College Tigers are one game over .500
after trouncing the Darton Cavaliers Thursday afternoon behind the pitching
of James Hickey (3-2, 4.78 ERA) and the offense of catcher Brandon Collins.
SGC also notched a pair of much-needed wins Tuesday in a double-header
against the Lake Michigan Community College Indians, then followed with as a
well played game as the Tigers have put together all year Thursday.
Against Darton, Hickey was dealing from the beginning. He retired the first
two batters on fly balls that jumped off the bat well but died in deep
center. Trent Dooley then grounded out benignly for the third out, and
Hickey escaped without any damage.
The Tigers made a statement early in their half of the first. Centerfielder
Zach Kilday singled to start things off. Second baseman Stuart Drew popped
up for the first out of the inning. Then left fielder Justin Roberts singled
through the hole at short. That put runners on first and second with Brandon
Collins at the plate. Collins didn’t waste much time, and promptly planted a
Joseph Herrmann offering over the right centerfield wall for a three run
home run, his fourth of the year.
But the Tigers weren’t through. Keenan Ivey followed with a single, and
scored on a double by Austin Palmer. Lee Hall reached on an error that
scored Palmer and moved Hall to second. A Jamaal Smith groundout moved Hall
to third, and he scored on a Justin Anderson single. When the inning finally
ended, SGC had scored six runs on six hits and one error.
SGC added two runs in the sixth, and one each in the seventh and eighth
innings. In the meantime, Hickey had the Darton offense off-balance all
night. He scattered seven hits over 7 2/3 innings, giving up just one run.
When Hickey’s night ended with two out in the eighth, Justin Newsome and
Greg Fietsam finished things off.
Collins was 1 for 2 with three RBI and a run scored, while Ivey, Smith and
Anderson each had two hits.
Tuesday, the Tigers swept a double-header against the Lake Michigan
Community College Indians, winning game one 13-2 and game two 12-2.
In the first game of the afternoon, SGC scored four in the first, one in the
second, five in the third and three in the sixth to win easily. The Tigers
used three pitchers, with starter Michael Baker (1-0, 3.95 ERA) taking the
win. He lasted five innings and surrendered two runs (both earned) on seven
hits. Scott Groover and Justin Fordham each pitched a scoreless inning of
relief.
Keenan Ivey, Jamaal Smith, Corey Meharg and Cole Anderson each had two hits.
Ivey and Austin Palmer drove in two runs apiece.
In the nightcap, Palmer accounted for five of the Tigers’ 12 runs. He led
the offense with a 2 for 3 day that included a three-run home run (his first
of the season) in the bottom of the first and five RBI. Stuart Drew started
the rally with a double. After a strikeout by Justin Roberts, Lee Hall
singled. The Palmer hit the first pitch he saw over the right field fence to
give the Tigers a 3-0 lead. SGC added seven runs in the fourth and two in
the fifth to win by 10 runs.
Justin Roberts, Hall, Evan Plys, Cole Anderson and Rhett Smith also had two
hits for the Tigers. Plys also drove in two runs.
Starter Tony Albritton (1-1, 5.68 ERA) went four innings and allowed just
two hits and no runs. Bray Bishop and Justin Newsome also saw action for the
Tigers.
Saturday, SGC faces Darton at George A. Cook Stadium in a double-header that
begins at 2 p.m. The Tigers are 12-11 on the season.
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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.
