Spurred on by a five-run ninth inning, Galveston College rallied from a three-run deficit to defeat Wharton County Junior College, 8-6, on March 30 at Wharton.

“The guys really wanted to win it, and they didn’t want to let this game, or the series, get away,” said Whitecaps Head Baseball Coach, Ryne Edmondson. “I’m proud of how the team bounced back from an early four-run deficit and rallied with seven runs in the last two innings to get us the win. It was an exciting end to the series.”

With the come-from-behind victory, GC improved to 16-16 overall and climbed into third place in the Region 14 South Conference with a 9-8 record. The Whitecaps trail first-place Blinn College (27-7, 15-2) and second-place San Jacinto College-North (20-12, 12-5) in the standings.

The series-ending loss dropped WCJC to 14-19 and 6-11, respectively, and the Pioneers remain in fifth place behind Alvin Community College (20-12, 8-9).

WCJC opened the game with four unanswered runs to take a 4-0 lead and held GC scoreless through the first five innings of the contest.

The Whitecaps finally broke through with a lone run in the sixth frame to cut the home team’s lead to three runs, 4-1. GC added two more runs in the eighth inning to cut the deficit temporarily to 4-3.

The Pioneers responded with a pair of runs in their half of the eighth to retake a three-run advantage, 6-3.

The Whitecaps’ bats erupted in the final frame as GC rallied for five runs to turn the tide and take an 8-6 lead, which was the final score after sophomore left-handed closer Cooper Corkrean shut down the Pioneers in the bottom half of the ninth.

GC starting right-handed hurler, freshman Lucas Moore, lasted three innings, allowing four runs on four hits with a pair of strikeouts. Moore was replaced by freshman lefty Bennett Springer, who worked 4.2 innings of middle relief before giving way to Corkrean in the eighth. Corkrean (1-0) pitched 1.1 scoreless innings to earn his first win of the season.

Offensively, Whitecaps first baseman Saul Soto went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBIs, third baseman Jacob Bulcroft went 2-for-4 and drove home three runs, and left fielder Zac Daigre went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and drove in another.

GC will be back in action on Tuesday when the Whitecaps host Alvin Community College at 6 p.m. at Bernard Davis Field in Galveston to start a four-game series against the Dolphins. GC will visit ACC on Thursday at 1 p.m. before returning home to close the series against the Dolphins with a doubleheader on Saturday at 2 and 4:30 p.m.

For more information about the GC Whitecaps baseball program, rosters and season schedule, visit https://www.gcwhitecaps.com/landing/index.

ABOUT GALVESTON COLLEGE

Galveston College was founded in 1967 and is a comprehensive community college providing the residents of Galveston Island and the surrounding region with academic, workforce development, continuing education and community service programs.