Baseball Hits Road

The Golden Knights baseball team took to the road for a pair of doubleheaders Thursday and Friday.  First up on Thursday was a trip to Wadley, AL and a date with perennial championship contenders Southern Union. After a 2-0 loss in Game 1, the Golden Knights rebounded with a 3-1 victory in Game 2.

These two games followed a familiar early season pattern for WGTC - strong pitching and offense at a premium. In Game 1, the brother duo of Avery Smith and Austin Smith limited the Bisons to just 2 runs and 4 hits.  Avery got the start, allowing just 3 hits and 2 runs over 5 innings.  However, the Knights simply could not get anything going offensively, with sophomore Justin Jackson (Conyers-Heritage) getting the lone hit.

In Game 2, WGTC turned the tables on the home team.  Sophomore left-hander Payton Anderson (Watkinsville-Oconee Co.) limited the Bison to 1 hit over 6 innings, striking out 6 and giving up an unearned run.  This time, the Knights got enough offense, getting a run in the 1st and 2 more in the 4th.  Carson Fowler (Fr., Canton-Cherokee) entered in the 7th and slammed the door to earn the save.

With rain threatening, Saturday's doubleheader was moved up to Friday and WGTC returned to Alabama - this time to Marion Military. The Knights faced Wallace Community College-Selma in Game 1, then in Game 2 played host Marion Military.

In Game 1, WGTC got off to a quick start.  Sophomore Danny Vargas (Long Island, NY-Dutchtown) doubled in Tony Matos (Winder-Winder-Barrow) who had singled. Jacob Earley (Douglasville-Alexander) singled, advancing Matos to 3^rd. Matos then scored on a sacrifice fly by Brody Chester (Dawsonville-Dawson Co.) to give the Knights an early 2-0 in the 1^st. WGTC took a 3-0 lead in the 4^th when Cory York (Cumming-North Forsyth) singled in Chester, who had singled earlier in the inning.  The Knights added another run in the 5^th. After 2 outs, Matos drew a walk.  Vargas then singled advancing Matos to 3^rd. Earley was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Chester singled in Matos giving the Knights a 4-0 lead.  As it would turn out, they needed all three of those runs. Wallace scored 2 in the bottom of the 5^th and then loaded the bases with no outs in the 7^th.  WGTC escaped that jam, giving up a run to hold on for the 4-3 win.

Caleb Dixon (Cumming-North Forsyth) provided a strong start. The freshman right-hander pitched 6 innings, giving up 2 runs on 3 hits while striking out 5. Another freshman, Jalan Daniels (Stone Mountain-Redan) held on to the save.

Playing its 6^th game in 4 days, the Knights then squared off with Marion Military.  The home team scored 5 in the 2^nd inning and built a 7-0 lead after 4. The Knights added a run in the 5^th, but could not get anything going offensively and lost 7-1.

Now 5-5 on the season, WGTC will stay on the road next week with a doubleheader at Chattanooga State on Tuesday followed by a single game at Chattahoochee Valley Thursday. The Knights return home next Saturday when Chattanooga State visits Carrollton for a 1 pm doubleheader.

For game updates, follow @WGTCAthletics on Twitter.