PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (Softball) – Shawnee State erased a three-run deficit with a trio of runs in the sixth and tied the game again in the eighth, but Georgetown College plated a run in the bottom of the eighth to take a 5-4 victory in game one of a three-game Mid-South Conference series at Robert N. Wilson Field on Friday evening.
Georgetown got out to a 3-0 lead off SSU starter Derek Moore (SO/Wheelersburg, Ohio), plating runs in the first, fourth and fifth innings while GC starter Payton Lobdell held the Bears scoreless over the opening five frames. Moore took a no-decision in seven innings of work, allowing four earned runs on seven innings, while striking out a pair.
Trailing 3-0, SSU got back in the game with three runs in the top of the sixth. Mitchell Lendenski (JR/Loveland, Ohio) opened the frame with a double, and Jacob Waters (JR/DeWitt, Mich.) followed with his own two-bagger to knock in a run. With Waters on third, Conner Wilson (JR/San Diego, Calif.) plated a run with an RBI-groundout, before a solo shot from Mason Wisner (SR/Bay Village, Ohio) tied things up at three.
In the bottom of the seventh, Georgetown took an advantage again after David Higuera lifted a sacrifice fly to center, plaiting Rick Reyes.
Shawnee State again responded, as Waters and Blake Maines (SO/Burlington, Ky.) hit back-to-back one-out singles. Following a wild pitch, Conner Wilson lifted a sac fly to center, again locking the game at 4-4.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Tigers took the lead after – following a walk and sacrifice bunt – Damian Rutherford singled to left to plate Ryan Rodriguez for the eventual game-winner. Despite a ninth-inning error, Sean Hale and Craig Ramsey combined to bring the game to a close with relative ease in the ninth.
Brandon Bonar (JR/Chillicothe, Ohio) took the loss for SSU after an inning of relief in the eighth, allowing one earned run on one hit and a walk.
The Bears and Tigers are back in action Saturday, concluding the three-game set with a doubleheader at Robert N. Wilson Field. First pitch of game one is slated for 1 p.m.
