AMERICUS - A seven-run sixth inning blew open Sunday's series finale for the Georgia Southwestern baseball team as the Hurricanes defeated Montreat College, 15-7, at Hurricane Stadium.
GSW continued its historic start by improving to 8-0 this spring. It's the first time GSW has been undefeated through eight games since joining the NCAA in 2006-07. Montreat dropped to 0-6.
After falling behind 2-0, GSW rallied for six runs in the third inning. Evan Alderman put the Hurricanes on the board with a RBI single that scored Will Redding. Alderman and Devyn Newberry scored on the next play as Alex Kranick drilled a shot into the left-field corner for at two-run double. Brett Burgess collected a RBI on a well-placed bunt between the mound and first base and Davey King plated Dakota Long with a double down the right-field line.
Montreat pushed across three runs in the fifth inning and tied the game in the top half of the sixth with the help of two GSW throwing errors.
The Cavaliers defense returned the favor in the bottom half of the inning as four errors helped the Hurricanes score seven runs and put the game out of reach. Zach Barron collected two hits in the inning as the Hurricanes made their way through the batting order.
Barron finished 3-for-5 at the plate with a double, RBI and run scored. Krannick went 2-for-5 with a double, four RBIs and two runs scored. Alderman, Long, Burgess and King each collected two hits. Burgess and Alderman had two RBIs apiece.
Grayson Snipes led Montreat at the plate with a 4-for-5 performance. Stephen Adams added three hits. Chase Day drove in three.
GSW used four different pitchers in the game. Starter Layne Gusler did not factor into the decision. Gusler threw 4 1/3 innings, walked four and struck out four. He surrendered six hits and three earned runs. Reliever Chad Adkins (1-0) picked up his first win of the season after throwing 2 2/3 innings. Adkins allowed two hits and was charged with one unearned run. Jarrod Crum threw an inning of scoreless relief. Drew Powers covered the ninth.
Montreat starting pitcher John Cassandra tossed 3 1/3 innings and allowed five earned runs and four hits. Kyle Nyenhuis (0-1) was the unfortunate victim of four errors in the sixth inning and was tagged with seven unearned runs. Braeden Daniels gave up two runs during his two innings on the hill.
Southwestern travels to Thomasville, Ga., on Tuesday for a non-conference game against Thomas University at 5 p.m.
