West Georgia Tech advances with opening round win
ALBANY, Georgia – The West Georgia Tech Golden Knights are off to a good start in its first-ever postseason appearance, winning the opening ballgame of the Region 17 Tournament over number four-seed Gordon College 9-1 in a game shortened to eight innings because of the run-rule on Wednesday afternoon in Albany.
The 5th-seeded Golden Knights (25-28) advance to take on top-seeded Georgia Perimeter (36-17) in a noon game on Thursday.
The Highlanders (28-24) were to play in an elimination ballgame later in the day at 7 p.m. against the loser of Darton and South Georgia.
WGTC rode the arm of Brad Bartlett, who had perhaps his most solid effort of the season, if not his career, allowing just one run on four hits over 8.0 innings. Bartlett struck out three batters and walked just one.
“Brad Bartlett was outstanding out there today, as he has been for us all season and for his entire career,” said West Georgia Tech head coach Todd Pratt. “What a game out there. He was dominant especially in the later innings. We produced behind him, too, and that was big. This was a big win for us.”
The Golden Knights had timely hits throughout the ballgame, eventually outhitting Gordon 11-4.
Jamie McKnight, a sophomore from South Paulding High School, had the biggest day offensively for WGTC, going 3-for-3 with a run scored.
Justin Batcher (2-for-4, RBI) and Hudson Power (2-for-2, RBI) also had multiple-hit games for the Golden Knights.
UWG transfer Nic Vinson had a 2-RBI day and was 1-for-3.
West Georgia Tech got on the board first with two runs in the third inning.
Blake Butcher led off the inning with a single followed by a bunt single by Hudson Power. After a Beau Welborn sacrifice to put both runners in scoring position, Rus Morman followed with a single to give the Golden Knights a 1-0 lead. Then Nic Vinson hit a sacrifice fly to make it a 2-0 ballgame.
It stayed that way until the bottom of the fourth when Gordon scored a run thanks to a two-out error which closed the gap to 2-1.
In the fifth West Georgia Tech scratched another run across as they got the leadoff man aboard on a two-base error. A sacrifice put the runner at third, and then Beau Welborn hit a sacrifice to it a 3-1 ballgame.
West Georgia Tech had its best inning of the day in the top of the 6th, scoring three runs, all with two outs. With runners on second and third and two outs, Anthony Brown hit a sharp ground ball which was misplayed by the third baseman, scoring Jamie McKnight to make it 4-1. Justin Batcher then hit a clutch 2-RBI single to left to extend the lead to 6-1.
The Golden Knights scored two more in the seventh to push the lead to 8-1 on a Nic Vinson RBI groundout and a Blake Butcher infield single which plated another run.
Hudson Power hit a triple with one out in the eight which scored Brown, making it 9-1 West Georgia Tech.
“We played small-ball today, for the most part. We had hits up and down the line-up. I’m pleased with our overall effort and play today. We’ll get some rest and be ready to go tomorrow.”
The winner of the WGTC-Georgia Perimeter contest will play at noon on Friday for a berth in Saturday’s championship. The loser of that game will play an elimination game at 7 p.m. Thursday night against either Middle Georgia, Darton or South Georgia.
Fans can follow the action via live video online at http://www.thegcaa.com/information/13gcaabaseballlinks.