FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Contact: Robert Preston, Jr.,
912.260.4276
robert.preston@sgc.edu
Whiddon, Baker earn wins in Tigers’ sweep over ABAC
Ryan Whiddon pitched a complete game and designated hitter
Corey Meharg homered in the Tigers’ 10-3 win over the ABAC Stallions in game
one of a Saturday double-header in Douglas. Brandon Collins added a home run
of his own in the second game, which the Tigers won 5-2.
The two wins were SGC’s third and fourth conference victories of the week,
and have the Tigers sitting in the seventh spot in the conference rankings
with a 7-11 record. Overall, SGC is 24-22 on the season.
Saturday, Whiddon (3-4, 4.15), who matches up well against the Stallions,
scattered 11 hits across nine innings, and only surrendered three runs (all
earned). He benefitted from solid defense; the Tigers committed just one
error, which came in the top of the seventh. Whiddon struck out four and
walked two.
Most of the Tigers’ offense came in the bottom of the second. SGC was
already leading 2-0 when the team’s bats came alive and essentially put the
game away. The inning was capped by Meharg’s two-out grand slam, his first
homer of the season. The Tigers added another run in the eighth when Zack
Kilday scored on a fielder’s choice by Keenan Ivey.
Stuart Drew was 4 for 5 and scored twice, while Brandon Collins, Justin
Roberts and Austin Palmer each had two hits. Chris Thompson and Ivey drove
in a two runs apiece.
In game two, Michael Baker (2-0, 4.20) pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings in
relief for the win. Tony Albritton, who started for SGC, ran into trouble
early and lasted just 1 2/3 innings. Baker recorded five strikeouts and gave
up just two hits.
ABAC scored its two runs in the top of the second off Albritton. After Baker
came in and ended the Stallions’ rally, the Tigers plated two to tie the
game, including one off a Brandon Collins (6) solo home run. The big lefty
lofted a fly ball to left field that rode the wind out of the ballpark. In
the bottom of the third, SGC scored three more runs to take a 5-2 lead.
Neither team would score for the remainder of the game. Right fielder Justin
Roberts was the only Tiger with multiple hits; he was 2 for 2 with a run
scored and an RBI.
The remainder of the season isn’t going to be easy for SGC. The Tigers have
eight games left, seven of which are in conference. Six of those seven games
are against Young Harris, the top team in the conference and the
number-three ranked junior college baseball team in the country, and Gordon,
the conference’s number two team. All of the games are on the road.
In order to make the first round of the playoffs, SGC must finish in the top
eight out of nine teams. Andrew College currently occupies the number eight
spot, with ABAC in ninth.
Photo: Dalton
Worth, the 14-year-old son of Ted and Shanda Worth, threw out the first
pitch before Saturday’s double-header between the SGC Tigers and the ABAC
Stallions. Dalton, who was at the game as a part of the annual Recreation
Day festivities, is a first baseman with Thurman Home Builders. He would
like to play professional baseball one day.
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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.
