The #20 GHC Chargers hosted NJCAA DII #10 Sinclair Community College this weekend in a matchup of two nationally ranked teams. The series did not dissapoint, as both teams demonstrated why they entered the season highly regarded. In the first game of the series, the Charger offense greeted Sinclair's hard throwing lefty Michael McDonough with 7 runs on 5 hits in the first two frames en route to a 12 run attack highlighted by a GHC single game record 8 doubles. Willis Kemp, Zack Miller, and Cameron Hearn each had 3 hits and 3 RBIs in the game, with Miller logging 3 doubles. Drew Wilson earned his first win of the season, striking out 7 in 6 innings and allowing 2 earned runs.
In the second game of the series, the Chargers carried a 6-5 lead into the ninth inning, but in a bizarre sequence of events, GHC surrendered 4 runs on 4 infield hits, a hit batsmen, and an errant throw. Skylar McPhee took his first loss of the year, and the Chargers could not capitalize on a 6 run attack. Nick Piccapietra had 2 hits and 2 RBI's to pace the offense, and starter Tyler Sellers struck out 10 in 4.2 innings, but GHC ended up falling 9-6.
The rain held off for just long enough on Sunday for the two ranked opponents to play the third and final game of the series, and once again the Chargers got on the board early against a Sinclair lefthander. The Chargers sent 8 hitters to the plate in a 2 run first inning before adding another run in the second, a trio in the fourth, and their 7th and final run in the fifth inning. Zack Miller scored 3 runs on the day and had a clutch, 2 strike, 2 out triple to open the game up. Matthew Norton was excellent in 5 innnings of work, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks while striking out 4 to earn the win. Jacob Henley closed out the game, throwing 2 scoreless innings to secure the series victory.
The Chargers are now 12-5 on the year.