Wolves Batter Bulldogs In Series Finale
CARROLLTON, Ga. – Settling in for a Monday matinee, the University of West Georgia baseball team slugged its way to a 14-6 Gulf South Conference rout of Union to capture a second straight series triumph.

The Wolves provided plenty of offensive firepower, belting out 17 hits to batter the Bulldogs in the rubber game at Cole Field, featuring seven multiple-hit performances, highlighted by a 4-for-6 effort from senior catcher Lane Griffith, who had a double, home run and four RBI.

"The offense was clicking. Lane Griffith came up big going 4-for-6 with four RBI. We had several guys that swung the bat extremely well," UWG head coach Jeff Smith said. "We were able to keep our lead at where it needed to be."

After the visitors got on the board with a single run in the top of the first, West Georgia (14-16, 13-14 GSC) answered with three runs in the home half on an opposite-field, two-run single by junior shortstop Joseph Hill and an RBI double from Griffith.

The Bulldogs (11-19, 9-18) had their big inning with four runs in the top of the third, two coming on a home run by center fielder Austin Zeitler, for the 5-3 lead.
But it was all Wolves from there.

UWG countered with five runs on five hits and an error in the bottom of the third, using a leadoff single from Hill, a double by sophomore first baseman Joe Skinner and RBI base knocks by Griffith and junior left fielder Ethan Brant to pull even at 5-all.

The rally proceeded with the Wolves plating a pair of runs on a fielder's choice off the bat of junior center fielder Jason Fointno, followed by a throwing error on the play. Sophomore second baseman Brody Wortham capped off the five-run frame with an RBI single.

Fointno added an RBI sacrifice fly in the fourth and Griffith continued his red-hot day at the plate with a two-run bomb in the sixth for an 11-5 margin.

Brant stretched the score to 12-5 with an RBI bunt single in the seventh and the offense continued to pile it on in the eighth with an RBI double from senior right fielder Dan Oberst and an RBI fielder's choice by Hill.

Smith noted how it was good to see the offense keep its foot on the gas and put the visitors away after taking the lead.

"It's always good to continue to have runs because then it takes the air out of the other team," Smith said.

Along with the four-hit effort from Griffith, Skinner (3-for-5, BB, 2B, 3 runs), Brant (2-for-4, run, 2 RBI), Fointno (2-for-4, RBI), Oberst (2-for-4, 2 BB, SB, 2 2B, 2 runs, RBI), Wortham (2-for-5, BB, 2 SB, 2 runs, RBI) and Hill (2-for-5, BB, SB, 2 runs, 3 RBI) also had multiple-hit performances.

West Georgia got five innings out of freshman starter Andrew Smith (4-2), yielding five runs on eight hits with two walks and three strikeouts. The right-hander was able to overcome the four-run third with back-to-back shutout frames to earn the victory.

The bullpen provided a strong effort from there, as sophomore Troy Shepherd fired two shutout innings, yielding just one hit with two walks before giving way to fellow sophomore Ezra Brown, who tossed the final two frames, allowing one run on two hits with no walks and two strikeouts.

"Andrew gave us a quality start where we didn't have to dip into the bullpen early, which was big because we were a little short-handed. Troy Shepherd comes in and gives us two strong innings and Ezra Brown gives us another two strong innings. So that was good to see," Smith said.

The Wolves travel to rival Valdosta State for a crucial three-game series on Saturday and Sunday at Grant Field.

"We know what we'll face. It's going to be a tough series. We've just got to make sure we're locked in and focused on doing the things that we do well and do that," Smith said.