AMERICUS, Ga. — For four innings, the opportunities kept coming.
So did the tension.
Georgia Southwestern loaded the bases in each of the first four frames Tuesday night at Hurricane Stadium, but couldn't deliver the decisive blow. After building a 7-3 lead midway through the game, the Hurricanes were held without a hit over the final 5 1/3 innings as Albany State University rallied late for an 8-7 non-conference victory.
GSW falls to 10-6 on the season.
Traffic, But No Breakthrough
The Hurricanes threatened immediately.
In the first, Caleb Gipson singled and swiped second and third before Kelsen Johnson walked and Josh McDonald reached. The bases were loaded with one out — but a strikeout and flyout ended the threat.
It became a theme.
In the second, Edwin Melendez doubled and Drew Reaves reached on an error. After a double play, Gipson walked and stole second while Reaves took third. Another walk loaded the bases, but the inning ended on a groundout.
The third and fourth innings followed a similar script — traffic everywhere, but just enough resistance from Albany State to escape.
Through four innings, Georgia Southwestern had left 12 runners stranded.
Seven-Run Surge
Despite the missed chances, the Hurricanes finally broke through in the third.
After falling behind 3-0, Josh McDonald was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Drake Harman doubled into the gap, and Drew Reaves ripped a two-run single through the left side to cut the deficit to one. Jacob Reeves followed with an RBI single to center to tie the game at 3-3.
An inning later, GSW surged in front.
Melendez singled home Harman, Reeves delivered another RBI knock, and Gipson reached on an error that allowed a run to score. Devon Murphy added a bases-loaded walk to cap a four-run fourth inning, giving the Hurricanes a 7-3 advantage.
For a moment, it felt like the dam had finally broken.
Albany State Chips Away
Albany State trimmed the lead to 7-4 in the fifth on a wild pitch, but Wade Johnson steadied things on the mound. The right-hander struck out nine over six innings, throwing a season-high 101 pitches, allowing four runs (three earned) and keeping the Hurricanes in control deep into the game.
The momentum shifted in the eighth.
Three walks loaded the bases before an RBI free pass and a sacrifice fly cut the lead to 7-6. GSW couldn't answer in the bottom half — part of a stretch in which the Hurricanes went hitless from the middle of the fourth inning on.
In the ninth, Albany State strung together four hits, including two RBI singles, to take an 8-7 lead.
GSW went down in order in the bottom of the ninth.
The Difference
GSW finished with seven hits and eight walks, but left 14 runners on base. The Hurricanes had the bases loaded in each of the first four innings and multiple chances late, yet never found the one swing to create separation.
Albany State (9-4) capitalized on its opportunities in the final two innings.
Next Up
GSW hits the road for its next four games, starting with a three-game weekend Peach Belt Conference series at league-leading Augusta University starting Friday night at 6 p.m.
