WILSON, NC (Feb. 28, 2026) - Georgian Court Baseball picked up their first win of the season, riding some impressive pitching along the way. GCU scored six first-inning runs and downed Clarion 8-2.

Game 1 - Georgian Court 8, Clarion 2
How it Happened
• The Lions scored eight runs on 10 hits while Clarion struggled to take advantage of opportunities scoring twice on nine base hits.
• All eight Lions runs came in the first two innings. They took advantage of three Golden Eagles errors, scoring seven unearned runs.
• Both teams left plenty on with the Lions stranding 11 and the Golden Eagles eight. Each team also hit into two ground ball double plays.
• Georgian Court put the first two runners on base in the bottom of the first with a hit and a walk. The Golden Eagles got the next two outs, but couldn't close the inning.
• After a walk loaded the bases, Jack Greenspan emptied them with a double for a 3-0 Lion lead.
• Another error in the inning brought in another run then Frankie Noviello and Oliver Santana picked up RBI hits for a 6-0 lead after one.
• GCU made it 8-0 getting a solo home run from Zinny Kemahu and a two-out RBI single from Tomas Tamargo to plate another unearned run.
• The rest of the game was all Michael Zitola, Jr. He was in command and got stronger throughout the afternoon.
• Jacob Patterson was the only thorn in Zitola's side though. He knocked an RBI single in the fourth and homered in the sixth for the Golden Eagles' only two runs.
• In the final three innings, Clarion had just two base runners.
• Even though the Lions didn't score again after the second, Zitola had more than enough run support. He struck out the side in the ninth to punctuate the Lions first win of the season.

Lion Stat Leaders
• Michael Zitola, Jr. threw a complete game giving up nine hits and two runs while striking out eight.
• Jack Greenspan finished 2-4 with a double and three RBI.
• Tomas Tamargo had a pair of hits and drove in a run.
• Matt DiOttavio scored twice.
• Zinny Kemahu homered as part of a two-hit day.

For the Golden Eagles
• Jalen Sami pitched well to finish the game throwing 2.2 shutout innings with two strikeouts.
• Jacob Patterson went 3-4 with a home run and both RBI.
• Ethan Giangiulio doubled and scored a run. 
• Zachary Colangelo picked up two hits in four at bats.

Game 2 - St. Thomas Aquinas 11, Georgian Court 8
How it Happened
• St. Thomas Aquinas scored early and late in their 11-8 win. They put up six runs in the first and four in their final three trips to the plate.
• Georgian Court finished with eight runs on five hits.
• The Spartans took advantage of four Lion errors to score seven unearned runs.
• GCU hitters had a hard time picking up STAC pitching, striking out 16 times.
• GCU struck first plating a pair in the opening inning on consecutive RBI hits from Brian Guzman and Zinny Kemahu.
• STAC got those back and them some. An RBI single tied the game, then with two outs, after the inning should have already been over if not for an error, Michael Zeis cleared the bases with a grand slam to put the Spartans ahead 6-2.
• GCU answered with a five-run third. All five runs came on something other than a hit. Two runs came in on walks, another on a hit batter, one on a sacrifice fly and the fifth on a wild pitch.
• The lead lasted until the fifth when STAC tied the game on another run-scoring wild pitch.
• They scored twice more in the sixth to take the lead for good and added some insurance in the ninth on a two-run scoring error. 
• GCU loaded the bases in the ninth, but only got a sacrifice fly and the game ended 11-8.

Lion Stat Leaders
• Brian Guzman finished 2-3 and scored three runs.
• Kody Lewis drove in a pair of runs.
• Oliver Santana singled, walked twice, stole two bases and scored two runs.

For the Spartans
• Lorent Hoti was brilliant in relief. He struck out eight batters in three innings and didn't allow a run.
• Michael Zeis hit a grand slam in a 1-3 day and also scored four runs.
• CJ Cumbo walked four times and scored a run.
• Taylor Haydt finished 2-6 with two RBI. 

News and Notes
• This was the Lions first win of the season and their first win in their first ever game against Clarion.
• Zitola, Jr. threw the second complete game in GCU history.
• Kemahu's home run gives him four in his career now, second most all-time at GCU.

Up Next
• Georgian Court finished up their weekend in North Carolina taking on West Virginia Wesleyan Sunday, March 1, at 10:30 am.