Baseball Bearcats Get Tough Draw To Begin 2024

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Rust College baseball program has possibly the most brutal opening weekend schedule in the NAIA this year and it was on full display Friday as (RV) Midway took game one 11-4 while the host and second-ranked Grizzlies from Georgia Gwinnett came away with a 14-1 triumph, both in seven.

The Basics:

• Score (Midway)
• • (RV) Midway – 11
  • Rust – 4

• Score (Georgia Gwinnett)
• • #2 Georgia Gwinnett – 14
  • Rust – 1

• Records
• • Rust (0-2, 0-0 Gulf Coast)
  • (RV) Midway (1-0, 0-0 River States)
  • #2 Georgia Gwinnett (1-0, 0-0 Continental)

• Location
• • Lawrenceville, Georgia – Grizzly Baseball Complex

• Midway Series History (Since 2017)
• • Midway Leads 1-0 (0%)

• Georgia Gwinnett Series History (Since 2013)

• • Georgia Gwinnett Leads 1-0 (0%)

• Midway Winning Streak (Since 2017)
• • Midway (W1) | Rust's Last Win: N/A

• Georgia Gwinnett Winning Streak (Since 2013)
• • Georgia Gwinnett (W1) | Rust's Last Win: N/A

Bearcats Top Performers:

• Calel Stephens provided two-thirds of what little offense the Bearcats could muster, knocking in two RBIs on a single back up the box vs. the Eagles in addition to a steal against GGC.

• Xavier Campbell notched the only extra-base hit of the afternoon (a double) while being the one of only two men, besides Stephens, to reach safely on multiple occasions.

• Both Shemaar Stapleton and Jalik Demar each swiped a pair of bases as the men from Holly Springs look to continue its identity of being a constant threat on the bases.

• In a forgettable Friday pitching-wise, Matthew Davis had a solid debut with two perfect innings plus a strikeout opposite Midway and Valentin Jaquez IV ceded a single walk and nothing more over an inning of work matched up with Georgia Gwinnett.

Next:

• Another day, another opportunity to prove themselves and pad the resume as they will play the same two squads once again in the suburbs of Atlanta.