GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – An early defensive battle ended in a 5-1 victory for Georgia Highlands in game one of the Alpine Bank Junior College Baseball World Series.
 
Both pitchers for #2 Georgia Highlands (54-8, 1-0 JUCO) and #17 McLennan (43-18, 0-1 JUCO) were efficient in the early inning.  However, in the bottom of the fourth inning, Ryan Wideman scored the first run of the tournament with a solo homerun to left center.  In the top of the fifth, McLennan answered with a solo shot to right center by Sam Flores.
 
In the fifth, Georgia Highlands took a 2-1 lead on a Luke Orfi double to center.  They would add an additional run in the sixth off a Ryan Martin single up the middle.  The Chargers would add a pair of insurance runs in the eighth on a bases loaded walk issued to Grayson Godbee and an RBI single by Ali Banks.
 
Georgia Highlands, wins their first game in Grand Junction and advances to Monday’s Memorial Day Spectacular at 6pm.  They will play the winner of Shelton State and Johnson County.  McLennan will play in an elimination game on Sunday at 2pm against the loser of Johnson County and Shelton State.