Box Score COCHRAN – There is no scientific proof that the dreary weather had a direct impact on ABAC's sloppy defense at Middle Georgia State's Stuckey Field Tuesday afternoon. But both were definitely present and resulted in a 5-2 loss for the Stallions.
After committing only nine errors through their first six games, the Stallions totaled five on Tuesday, The Knights' first two runs were unearned and the next two were scored on wild pitches, two of the four that ABAC had on the day.
The only silver lining for the Stallions was that, although Middle Georgia is a Southern States Athletic Conference rival, the game was designated a non-conference matchup and does not count in the SSAC standings.
After trailing 1-0, ABAC took the lead in the third with a pair of runs as the Knights showed they were mistake-prone as well. ABAC's
Russell Clifton started the rally with a one-out single before Quentin Rawls's single moved pinch-runner
Cooper Scruggs to third. Back-to-back walks to
Joe Fisher and
Cristofer Walley tied the game before Rawls scored on a wild pitch for a 2-1 lead.
But that was the only offense the Stallions could muster as they finished with only four hits against five MGA pitchers. The Stallions used five pitchers as well, who combined to allow seven hits, eight walks, and three earned runs while striking out nine.
Trace Hodges started on the mound and lasted three innings. Daniel Harrelson took the loss in relief, allowing two earned runs over two innings, while
Lane Cole,
Owen Lamb, and
Chris Cooper pitched an inning each. Four of the five Stallions' pitchers are freshmen while Harrelson is a sophomore.
Sophomore right fielder
Brayden Fordham led ABAC at the plate with two hits.
Now 5-2 on the season, ABAC returns to Stallion Field Friday for the first of a three-game series against William Carey. The series against the defending SSAC champ from Hattiesburg, Miss. will be the first conference games of the year for both teams. Friday's game is set to begin at 6 p.m. with Saturday's doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
