Hager Fires One-Hitter in Game 1, Powell Homers in Game 2 of GSC DH Sweep Over Kalamazoo Valley

Madison Powell connected for a grand slam in the Highlanders' 10-2 win over Andrew College to complete the doubleheader sweep on Tuesday.

February 29, 2020

BARNESVILLE, Ga. -- Gordon State picked up its first doubleheader sweep of the 2020 season as the Highlanders defeated Kalamazoo Valley Community College (Mich.) 8-0 and 10-8 on a cool Friday afternoon at the GSC Athletic Complex.

GSC (5-9) took the opener as Faith Hager (Conyers, Ga. / Heritage HS) fired a one-hitter in the five-inning contest that included eight strikeouts and three walks as the freshman right-hander faced 19 batters.

Meanwhile, GSC's bats came out hot as the Highlanders struck for all eight runs in the first four innings, including a three-run first inning.

GSC added single runs in the second and third innings before erupting for three more runs in the fourth to build the eight-run advantage.

Taylor McClendon (McDonough, Ga. / Ola HS), Madison Powell (Roberta, Ga. / Taylor Co. HS) and Jordyn Dobson (McDonough, Ga. / Union Grove HS) each had two hits.

McClendon was 2-for-3 with three runs scored, a walk and RBI, Powell was 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI, and Dobson was 2-for-2 with a double, walk and three RBI.

Game 2 saw the Kalamazoo Valley bats come alive after GSC had built a 5-1 lead after three innings.

KVCC rallied for a four-run fourth inning to tie the contest at 5-5 and after GSC regained the lead with a run in the bottom of the fourth, the Cougars took an 8-6 lead with three runs in the top of the fifth.

But GSC had a three-run inning of its own in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead for good at 10-8.

Powell led the way with a 3-for-4 game that included a home run, two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored.

Breanna Lee (Concord, Ga. / Pike Co. HS) and Claire Williams (Conyers, Ga. / Heritage HS) also homered for the Highlanders in the victory.

Lee went 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run while Williams was 1-for-3 with a walk, two runs and an RBI.

Hailey Hooper (Monticello, Ga. / Piedmont Academy) added two hits, including a double, with an RBI and a walk and Makenzie English (Williamson, Ga. / Pike Co. HS) went for 2-for-4 with a double.

McClendon had two hits, including a triple, with two runs scored as the Highlanders pounded out 14 hits.

Bailey Odom (Danville, Ga. / Bleckley Co. HS) started and went four innings while allowing five runs (just one earned) before giving way to Hager, who finished up the game with three innings of work and allowed three runs to improve to 4-3 on the season.

GSC hits the field again on March 5 when LaGrange College (varsity reserves) come to Barnesville for a 2 p.m. doubleheader.

The Gordon State College Department of Athletics is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA). Gordon State College competes in NJCAA Division I in the sports of Women's Soccer (Fall), Men's Basketball (Fall/Spring), Softball (Spring) and Baseball (Spring). Gordon State College is located in Barnesville, Ga., approximately 60 miles south of Atlanta and 35 miles northwest of Macon. Gordon State College offers both two-year and four-year degree programs and believes that our Athletics program provides student-athletes with the opportunity to be successful academically, athletically and in life after their time as a Highlander. You can follow GSC Athletics at www.gscathletics.com, on Facebook (@GordonStateCollege #GSCHighlandersForward), on Twitter (@GordonState) and Instagram (gordon_state).