FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, April 10, 2009
Contact: Robert Preston, Jr.,
912.260.4276
robert.preston@sgc.edu
Jamaal Smith picks up two big wins for Tigers
Sophomore pitcher Jamaal Smith picked up two wins this week
– both in relief – as the Tigers defeated Gordon College 19-18 Tuesday and
ABAC 10-9 in 10 innings Thursday.
Tuesday, the Tigers led 19-14 through eight innings and survived a four-run
ninth to escape with a big conference win. The game didn’t start out very
well for SGC. Starter Justin Fordham didn’t retire a single batter in the
first inning. He gave up seven runs (four earned) on four hits and two
errors before being replaced by Bray Bishop. Coach Scott Sims ended up using
seven pitchers in the game. Smith, the fifth pitcher of the day, threw two
scoreless innings en route to the win.
Despite being down 7-0 after the first inning, SGC battled back, scoring
five in the third, five in the fifth, seven in the sixth and two in the
seventh to pull ahead 19-14. However, Gordon showed some fight and plated
four more runs in the top of the ninth before Justin Newsome retired the
final batter with the tying run on third base.
Lee Hall was 4 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored, and Brandon Collins
was 2 for 3 with two runs scored and five RBI. Stuart Drew had three hits,
scored twice and drove in three.
Thursday, it seemed as though neither SGC nor ABAC wanted to win. The Tigers
jumped out to a 3-0 lead, then surrendered six runs in the top of the fourth
on seven hits and an error to let ABAC take a 6-3 advantage. ABAC added a
run in the fifth, and SGC answered with two in the bottom of the frame. By
the end of the seventh, the Tigers had overtaken ABAC, and held on to a slim
8-7 lead. ABAC tied the score in the top of the eighth, and SGC followed
with a run in the bottom of the inning when Stuart Drew scored on an infield
single by Keenan Ivey. The run gave SGC a 9-8 lead. However, ABAC responded
again in the top of the ninth with a run to tie the game at nine.
Reliever Justin Newsome retired ABAC in the top of the tenth after giving up
a single. In the bottom of the tenth, the speedy Zack Kilday singled and
advanced to second on a wild pitch. Stuart Drew then drove a Malcomb Gay
offering up the middle for a single that scored Kilday and gave the Tigers
their second conference win this week.
Smith, who threw 4 2/3 innings in relief of starter Greg Fietsam, brought
his record to 5-4 on the season. Lee Hall, Chris Thompson, Brandon Collins
and Drew each had two hits against ABAC. Ivey was 3 for 4 with two RBI and
two runs scored.
The Tigers conclude their home schedule today at 1 p.m. with a double-header
against ABAC. Before the games, SGC will recognize the youth baseball teams
with the Douglas-Coffee County Parks and Recreation Department. Activities
begin at 12:30 p.m. Between games, the Tiger sophomores will be honored.
After today’s double-header, SGC has eight more games this season, all of
which are on the road. The Tigers are fighting for a post-season berth. They
are 23-22 overall, and 6-11 in conference play.
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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.
