CARROLLTON, Ga. – A big fifth inning from the visitors proved to be the difference in Monday's rubber game at Cole Field.
The University of West Georgia baseball team suffered a 10-3 Gulf South Conference setback to No. 15 West Florida to close out the series, as the Argos erupted with seven runs on eight hits and two errors in the fifth to overcome a 2-0 deficit and take two of three from the Wolves.
UWG freshman hurler
Andrew Smith was cruising right along through the first four shutout frames, allowing just three hits with no walks and three strikeouts.
But the Argos (26-8, 25-8 GSC) went to work immediately in the top of the fifth, getting six of the first seven hitters aboard, including a two-run home run by first baseman Cullan O'Shea to give UWF its first lead of the game at 4-2.
West Florida kept its foot on the gas, tacking on three more runs in the fifth and getting the second two-run homer from O'Shea in as many at-bats in the sixth to stretch the score to 9-3 after the Wolves manufactured a run in the bottom of the fifth.
The visitors added a final run on a solo shot from shortstop Miller Hancock in the eighth.
UWG head coach
Jeff Smith noted that the fifth inning got away from his freshman starter after getting off to a tremendous start against the second-place team in the conference.
"The fifth inning hurt. We give up seven runs. If we don't give up seven runs in that inning, we're in a 3-3 game going into the ninth," Smith said. "Just some balls got elevated and we gave a few things away and couldn't get out of the inning quick enough."
West Georgia (15-21, 14-19) got off to a promising start in Monday's matinee, taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a two-out solo shot over the right-center field wall by sophomore shortstop
Brody Wortham.
The Wolves stretched the lead to 2-0 in the second courtesy of a one-out single from junior second baseman
Cody Mish and an RBI double by junior first baseman
Joseph Hill.
Following a pair of scoreless innings in the third and fourth, the Argos took control of the contest in the fifth.
UWF freshman Tyler Dowdy registered the win behind seven innings of 10-hit ball, allowing three runs with one walk and two strikeouts. Hancock and O'Shea powered the Argo offense at the top of the order, combining to go 7-for-10 with three home runs, five runs scored and seven RBI.
West Georgia had three players record multiple-hit efforts with Mish (3-for-4, run), Wortham (2-for-4, HR) and senior right fielder
Dan Oberst (2-for-5) accounting for seven of the team's 11 hits.
UWG remains home to close out the regular season by hosting Christian Brothers (5-30, 3-29 GSC) in a three-game series on Saturday and Sunday at Cole Field. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. for Saturday's doubleheader with a 1 p.m. finale on Sunday.
The Wolves entered Monday's contest in a tie for eighth place in the league standings with Auburn Montgomery, but the Warhawks (15-18 GSC) defeated Montevallo in an 8-3 decision in their series finale to take a one-game lead in seventh place with three games remaining.
Mississippi College (12-16 GSC) fell to eighth following its loss to Lee on Monday and now has a .429 winning percentage. Since the Choctaws have played fewer league games than both UWG and AUM, winning percentage would be the deciding factor when all is said and done next weekend. At 14-19, the Wolves are .005 percentage points behind Mississippi College for the No. 8 spot. MC plays its final series at home against Delta State (19-13 GSC).
Needless to say, there is still much on the line in the final week of the regular season in regard to the Wolves punching their ticket to the postseason.
"That's all it is. It's about us showing up each day, getting quality pitched games, playing hard and being aggressive and playing the way we're teaching them how to play," Smith said.
