The South Georgia State College Hawks had won two in a row when the USC-Salkehatchie Indians came to town Tuesday for the last two games of the non-conference schedule. They wanted to play spoiler and kick the Hawks in the teeth on the eve of conference play.
It didn’t happen.
The Hawks defeated the Indians 12-2 in a run-rule shortened game one then followed that with a 6-5 win to complete the sweep.
Game one ended via the 10-run rule after five innings. The Hawks scored in every inning but the second. SGSC plated two in the first, one in the third, five in the fourth, and four in the fifth while giving up two runs in the third. Right fielder Luke Boone was responsible for most of the Hawks’ offense. He was 3-4 with five RBI and two runs scored. All three of his hits were triples. Left fielder CJ Chalk (2-2 with three runs scored) and center fielder Tanner Langley (2-3, three runs, one RBI) also figured prominently in SGSC’s scoring barrage. Second baseman Chaz Encarnacion (2-2, two runs) contributed as well.
Caleb Fordham started and went 1 2/3 innings before leaving the game with tightness in his forearm. Carson Ward came in and went the distance to get the win. He scattered six hits across 3 1/3 innings, giving up two runs (both earned) while striking out three.
Game two played out a little differently. The Hawks played well but did give the Indians a little hope when they surrendered four runs in the top of the fifth. SGSC was leading 4-0 when the inning started. When it finally ended, the game was tied.
The Hawks drew first blood when first baseman Enrique Castillo singled, scoring center fielder Jayden Camp in the process. SGSC scored three in the bottom of the fourth, all with two outs. Langley hit a ground ball to third that was misplayed. He reached safely, scoring third baseman Pedro Rodriguez and second baseman Jaden Nesmith. After Langley stole second, Camp drove him in with a single to put the Hawks up 4-0.
The wheels didn’t exactly come off in the top of the fifth but SGSC did lose a few lug nuts. The inning started with a single then a hit by pitch. An SGSC error scored two runs. A single and another hit by pitch set the stage for the Indians to plate two more runs to tie the game at 4-4.
The Hawks, however, refused to give up. Castillo, who had played a role in the miscue that gave the Indians some momentum the previous inning, led off the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run to put SGSC back on top 5-4. Designated hitter Alex Bairan followed with a walk. He scored when catcher Gavin Brinkley tripled. The two runs gave the Hawks a 6-4 advantage.
The Indians were able to score a run with two outs in the top of the seventh but that’s all they would get. The Hawks completed the sweep with a 6-5 win.
The Hawks used five pitchers in the game. Logan Taylor started but did not get the decision. He gave up one unearned run over five innings. He allowed just one hit and struck out three. The fourth pitcher of the day, Riley Barker, picked up the win with 1 2/3 innings of work. Boone threw the seventh inning and picked up his first save of the season.
The Hawks, who are 10-12 on the year, are off until Tuesday when they open the conference schedule with a single game at home against Georgia Highlands. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.