AMERICUS, Ga. — Georgia Southwestern battled back from an early deficit to tie the game midway through, but a decisive seventh inning proved the difference as Flagler College pulled away for a 12-8 victory in Sunday's Peach Belt Conference series finale at Hurricane Stadium.
The Hurricanes (20-22, 12-12 PBC) erased a three-run deficit to even things at 8-8, but the Saints (27-13, 14-10 PBC) responded with four runs in the seventh to secure the win and claim the series 2-1.
Early Firepower
GSW wasted no time setting the tone offensively.
After Flagler struck first in the opening inning, the Hurricanes answered with two runs in the bottom half behind RBI efforts from
Josh McDonald and
Kelsen Johnson. GSW kept the pressure on in the second when
Devon Murphy launched a three-run homer down the left-field line, pushing the lead to 5-2. It was Murphy's third home run in the last four PBC games and his seventh overall this spring.
Murphy's swing highlighted another productive day, as he recorded his team-leading fourth four-RBI game of the season and his 14th multi-RBI performance.
Momentum Swings
Flagler chipped away before breaking through in the fourth.
A four-run inning flipped the game in favor of the Saints, turning a 5-3 deficit into a 7-5 advantage. The Hurricanes answered in the bottom half, trimming the gap to one on an RBI fielder's choice from Murphy.
Flagler added an unearned run in the fifth, but GSW continued to grind. Taking advantage of walks and wild pitches, the Hurricanes pushed across two runs in the bottom of the inning to knot the score at 8-8.
Seventh-Inning Separation
With the game tied entering the seventh, Flagler delivered the decisive blow.
Capitalizing on a pair of errors, the Saints plated four runs—three unearned—to seize control. A two-run single from George Gilson highlighted the inning as Flagler stretched its lead to 12-8.
GSW threatened to answer, putting runners on in the seventh and eighth, but couldn't break through against the Flagler bullpen down the stretch.
Jensen Seculer kept the margin at four with three innings of scoreless relief for the Hurricanes.
At the Plate
Murphy drove the offense with four RBIs, highlighted by his three-run home run in the second inning.
Drew Reaves turned in a strong performance with three hits, reaching base multiple times to help fuel the Hurricanes' offense.
Drake Harman extended his on-base streak to 33 consecutive games, finishing with a hit and two walks at the top of the lineup.
Next Up
The Hurricanes host Valdosta State University on Tuesday for a nonconference game at 6 p.m.
