The South Georgia State College Hawks scored 12 runs in two innings, and overcame a one-run deficit late in the game in the process, to collect their first conference win of the 2025 season. The Hawks defeated the Georgia Highlands Chargers 12-8 at Crider Field in Douglas on Tuesday afternoon.
The Chargers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second then the Hawks answered with seven runs in the fourth. Former Coffee Trojan Payton Bryant doubled with the bases loaded to drive in two runs and give SGSC a 3-1 lead. Logan Taylor followed with a ground ball that the Chargers mishandled, allowing Luke Flading and Bryant to score. A couple of batters later, CJ Chalk singled to score Taylor and Chaz Encarnacion to put the Hawks ahead 7-1.
The Chargers, however, battled back with six runs in the sixth and a run in the seventh to take an 8-7 lead. SGSC rallied again in the eighth, scoring five to pull away 12-8. Bryant led off with a single and moved to second on a bunt by Taylor. Encarnacion doubled to score Bryant and tie the game. Talon Daignault followed with a single that drove in Encarnacion. After a strikeout for the second out of the inning, Tanner Langley was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second. Then Jesse Brown delivered the coup d’etat on the first pitch he saw – he launched a three-run home run to left that gave the Hawks all the breathing room they would need.
Luke Boone came in to pitch the ninth inning and retired the Chargers in order.
Brown was 3-5 with three RBI and two runs scored. Bryant was 2-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Encarnacion collected a pair of hits and scored twice as well. The Hawks used seven pitchers against the Chargers. Luke Smith started and went 5 2/3 innings. He gave up five runs (one earned) on eight hits. He struck out six and walked four. Boone, the final pitcher of the day, threw a perfect seventh inning to secure the win for SGSC.
The Hawks are 11-12 on the season and 1-0 in conference play. They face East Georgia today at Crider Field on the SGSC campus. Game time is 3 p.m.