CARROLLTON, Ga. - The West Georgia Wolves split the final day of home action at Cole Field on Saturday afternoon, winning 6-5 in dramatic fashion in 12 innings in the opener followed by a 5-3 loss in the home season finale.
For seven innings of Saturday's opening game, the West Georgia Wolves cruised against the Union pitching and the lineup, but a four-run eighth proved to be the tying effort for the Bulldogs that forced extra innings. The win propelled the Wolves into the 2019 Gulf South Conference tournament, as other action around the league throughout the day on Saturday finalized the UWG entry into this year's postseason.
West Georgia jumped on Union quickly in this one, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. Nick Poskey was hit by a pitch to open the inning for the Wolves, then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Joseph Hill. Poskey then advanced to third on a passed ball and when Union attempted to throw him out, he scored on a throwing error. Cade Marlowe walked, then stole two bases in the inning and scored on a sacrifice fly from Logan Taylor for the 2-0 lead.
In the second, Brian Dansereau made it an easy 3-0 lead, belting his third home run of the season to extend the UWG lead. Starter Ryan Parker was solid throughout his start, giving up the first run of the game for the Bulldogs in the top of the fourth and nothing else. The junior went seven innings, scattering nine hits and allowing just one run while striking out seven. In the seventh inning, the Wolves pushed the lead out to 5-1 with a pair of extra-base hits. Tucker Breen led off the inning with a double, then came home on Brody Wortham's first career collegiate home run.
The top of the eighth saw Union cut into the West Georgia lead and tie the game with four runs in the frame. That would be the final scoring in the game until the bottom of the 12th.
In that inning, Dansereau delivered with a one-out infield single. The senior then stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. After Jermond Williams walked, Tucker Breen reached on a fielding error by the Union shortstop, which allowed Dansereau to come home with the winning run.
Dansereau led the Wolves with a 3-for-6 effort in the game, driving in a run and scoring twice. Wortham, Breen, and Taylor each had two hits in the game as well.
In game two, Union drew first blood with a run in the top of the first. West Georgia rebounded in the bottom of the second with a run. Taylor led off the inning with a single followed by a double from Dan Oberst that gave the Wolves runners on second and third with no outs. Dansereau then grounded out to third, but Taylor came home with the tying run.
The game remained in a 1-1 tie until the fourth when Union added another run. West Georgia remained silent at the plate, but the Bulldogs added three more in the top of the sixth to take a commanding 5-1 lead.
Taylor picked up the offensive pace in the bottom of the sixth after Wortham led off the inning with a single. Two batters later, Taylor blasted his seventh home run of the season, pulling the Wolves to within two runs at 5-3 heading into the top of the seventh. In the final inning, the Wolves managed one hit, but no more as Union avoided the sweep. Tyler Garner took the loss for the Wolves, his first of the season to fall to 4-1.
West Georgia is now 24-21 on the year with a 13-12 record against Gulf South Conference competition. The Wolves will be back in action on Tuesday evening at North Georgia.
