GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — The big stage was not too big for Georgia Highlands.
The Chargers (55-8, 2-0 JUCO) erupted for six runs in the sixth inning and knocked off top-ranked and top-seeded Johnson County Community College 10-1 in a run-rule game Monday night in the Alpine Bank Junior College World Series.
Georgia Highlands, ranked No. 2 and seeded No. 4 in the JUCO World Series, playing in front of 10,691 fans at Suplizio Field, broke a scoreless tie on Grayson Godbee's leadoff home run in the fifth inning that bounced off a row of bleachers in the outfield stands. With two out, Luke Orfi hit a towering shot over the left-field wall for a 2-0 lead.
The Cavaliers (53-12, 1-1 JUCO) got one run back in the bottom of the inning on Kyle Hepburn's RBI triple to left-center after Miken Miller singled.
In the sixth, however, the Chargers, making their appearance in the Junior College World Series, sent 11 men to the plate, scoring six runs on five hits and two Johnson County errors.
The first run came home on some heads-up base running on a throwing error by pitcher Ryan Borberg attempting to pick Ryan Wideman off second. Wideman not only advanced to third but never slowed down, scoring as the ball went into the outfield. Ali Banks delivered a two-run double and Wideman added a run-scoring single in the inning.
Two runs in the seventh pushed the lead to 10-1 and Michel Sharman wrapped up the compete game by retiring three of the four men he faced in the bottom half of the inning, walking one batter with two out, but then coming back with his fifth strikeout of the game Sharman allowed one run on seven hits, walked two and threw 117 pitches, 81 for strikes.
Orfi had three of Georgia Highlands' hits and Clay Wiesen, Martin and Godbee drove in two runs each.
Johnson County's Hepburn came a home run shy of hitting for the cycle, collecting three of the Cavaliers' seven hits.
Georgia Highlands is off until Wednesday night, facing the winner of Tuesday night's game between Florence-Darlington and Blinn.
Johnson County plays an elimination game at 2 p.m. Tuesday against Northwest Florida.