WGTC Takes series opener over GHC

CARROLLTON, Georgia -- West Georgia Tech knocked off Georgia Highlands College in the season's home finale Tuesday afternoon, 8-2, for its second-consecutive series-opening win and third of the season. Games two, three and four of the series will be played Friday and Saturday at Georgia Highlands. West Georgia Tech came into the week needing a four-game sweep to steal a GCAA Tournament berth from GHC. Tuesday was a first step.

Freshman righty Miles Dutton (Woodstock, Ga. / Etowah H.S.) pitched a complete-game four-hitter in his last home start as a freshman, leading WGTC to an 8-2 win. Dutton struck out 11 Charger batters while walking three and gave up just two runs (earned) on four hits through nine innings. West Georgia Tech led 1-0 early, but Georgia Highlands scored single runs in the fourth and sixth innings to go in front 2-1. But the WGTC offense came to life with five runs in the seventh, which gave the Black and Gold a 6-2 lead and more than enough cushion for Dutton. WGTC added another pair of runs in the eighth to close the scoring. 

After scoring its only run up to that point on an RBI-groundout in the first by Jacob Olson, WGTC scored five runs in the seventh to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 6-2 lead. Josh Eidson led the inning with a triple and Aaron Gonzalez followed with a walk to put runners on the corners with no outs. Connor Wilson hit a sacrifice fly to drive in the tying run and make it a 2-2 game. Angelo Rivera reached on an infield error, which put runners at second and third with one out. Adam Pedraza was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Brandon Bone. Bone came through with a 2-RBI double and West Georgia Tech led 4-2. Adrian Martinez followed with a single, which scored another pair of runs and WGTC was comfortably in front, 6-2.

Outside of the obvious, an outstanding pitching performance from starter Miles Dutton, WGTC once again came through with a big inning late in the game to retake the lead. West Georgia Tech's offense has been its strongest suit of late, especially in late-game big-inning situations. It happened again Tuesday.

Miles Dutton was in control from start to finish. When Georgia Highlands led the third with a pair of singles, Dutton got out of the jam by inducing a double play ball, which was nicely turned by the West Georgia Tech infield. GHC had the bases loaded with one out in the sixth and Dutton held the Chargers to just one run, on a sacrifice fly. Dutton was especially effective late in the game, as he retired the last 11 batters he faced. Dutton set the side down in order in the seventh, eighth and ninth. 

West Georgia Tech improves to 13-33, 8-17, while Georgia Highlands falls to 26-27, 11-14. 

With three games left in the regular season, all at Georgia Highlands (11-14) this weekend, WGTC (8-17) still controls its own destiny in regards to earning one of six berths in the GCAA Conference Tournament next week. The Golden Knights came into the week needing a four-game sweep of Georgia Highlands to catch them in the standings. WGTC would win a tiebreaker over Georgia Highlands if the Knights sweep, due to the head-to-head results. East Georgia and Gordon are currently 11-13 in the conference and need just one win to secure a berth. Andrew (8-16) is battling Gordon (11-13) this week needing to win three of four to take a spot from Gordon. Andrew would win the tiebreaker over West Georgia Tech. 

For West Georgia Tech to make the postseason, the Golden Knights have to win all three this weekend at Georgia Highlands and have Andrew win no more than two of four against Gordon.

West Georgia Tech closes the regular season at Georgia Highlands with a three games at Georgia Highlands this weekend. The two teams will square off Friday at 6 p.m., and will play a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday. All three games will be played at the LakePoint Sporting Community, about thirty minutes north of Atlanta on I-75 in Emerson, Ga.