A seven-run first inning help the South Georgia State College Hawks withstand a late comeback bid from the Andrew College Tigers Tuesday afternoon at Crider Field in Douglas. The Hawks won 14-7.
After scoring seven in the first, the Hawks added one in the second, three in the third, two in the sixth, and one in the eighth. The Tigers scored one in the third and six in the seventh.
Three Hawks homered in the game – Jesse Brown (5), Payton Bryant (2), and Steven Tavares-Batista (9). Braxton Brady and Tanner Langley also doubled for SGSC.
Brown and Tavares-Batista hit solo home runs in the first. Two Hawks were hit by pitches with the bases loaded to drive in runs – Bryant and Talon Daignault. Langley also doubled in the inning, driving in three.
Bryant homered in the third, a solo shot to right field. Tavares-Batista and Brice Marchman also had RBI singles in the inning.
Brown, Tavares-Batista, Marchman, and Diego Gonzales had three hits for the Hawks. Tavares-Batista and Bryant drove in two while Bryant scored three times.
Starter Luke Sims scattered five runs (all earned) across eight hits in 6 2/3 innings of work. He struck out seven and walked two. Cooper Kiker, Carson Ward, and Hayden Gmerek also pitched in relief.
The win improved the Hawks to 25-18 overall and 7-8 in conference play. SGSC is in third place in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association rankings behind Georgia Highlands and Gordon State. The Hawks have three more games against Andrew this week, all of which are on the road: Thursday at 5 p.m. and a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
