Robbie Shields' one-out single in the bottom of the ninth scored Wade Kirkland to cap a four-run rally and gave the Moccasins a 6-5 win over Georgia Southwestern Friday night at Henley Field.
The Moccasins' rally started when Braxton Chisholm reached on an error with one out. Colin Kaline and Trae Gore drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. After reliver Bud Fuller sent Chisholm home on a wild pitch, Kirkland smacked a two-run double to left center, scoring Kaline and Gore to tie the game. Shields then singled to left on a 1-0 count and Kirkland came home with the winning run.
Both starting pitchers turned in strong outings, but neither was involved in the decision. The Moccasins' Max Russell worked 6.2 innings, striking out a career-high 12. He struck out the side in the first two innings and did not allow a hit until the sixth. Georgia Southwestern's R.M. Cozza pitched 8.1 innings and struck out eight.
Staked to a 2-0 lead on Andrew Grutka's two-run homer in the second, Russell cruised through six innings, then gave up three runs in the seventh. Daniel Tillman finished the inning and then he gave up a pair of runs in the top of the ninth to put the Moccasins in a 5-2 hole before they staged their four-run rally. Tillman picked up the win, improving to 2-1. Fuller took the loss, falling to 1-3.
Zach Maggard singled in the seventh to extend his hitting streak to 15 straight games.
The Moccasins and Hurricanes play a doubleheader Saturday at 2 p.m. at Henley Field.
