Campus News
March 31st, 2026
Miller slams Lakers as PSC rallies for win
Catamounts erase 7-1 deficit with eight-run fifth inning
Callen Miller’s grand slam highlighted an eight-run fifth inning Monday afternoon as the Catamounts erased a 7-1 deficit on the way to a 12-7 baseball victory over host Garrett College.
Miller (3-for-6) used the grand slam to pull West Virginia University Potomac State College with 7-6. The Catamounts (15-6) tied the game on GC reliever Gavin Watkins’ bases-loaded walk to Seth Healy on a 3-2 pitch, and took an 8-7 lead when Lex Wescott (3-for-5, two runs, three RBI) followed with a run-scoring sacrifice fly.
"When you can’t throw strikes, that’s what happens," said GC head coach Eric Hallenbeck. "We walked 10 guys and hit two others – we gave up 12 free bases in a nine-inning game."
All told, three Laker relievers combined to yield five walks, hit a batter, and allow four hits – including a homer and two doubles – during Potomac State’s fifth-inning explosion. That wasted an outstanding performance by GC starter Kai Canson, who permitted just one run on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts over the first four innings.
Sebastian Mayfield – whose pinch-hit, two-run homer a day earlier rallied GC past Frederick – helped stake Garrett to a quick 5-0 lead. He doubled in a pair of first-inning runs and adding a two-run single in the second.
"He’s coming off a hamstring injury, so we’re trying to work him slowly back into the lineup. He’s playing pretty well," Hallenbeck said of Mayfield, a freshman outfielder who’s hitting .368 with eight RBI in 19 at bats.
The lead ballooned to 7-1 in the fourth as Catamount relievers Jayden Lester and Jaxon Drennen each walked in a run.
GC shortstop Noah Broadwater went 3-of-4, walked twice, and scored twice as he raised his batting average to .521. He continues to lead NJCAA Division II Region 20 in hitting and RBI (43), and is third in homers with seven.
Garrett 9, FCC 7
FCC 12, Garrett 8Sunday’s doubleheader against visiting Frederick Community College was a tale of two comebacks.
The Lakers won Game 1 by rallying from a 7-2 deficit, taking the lead on Sebastian Mayfield’s pinch-hit, two-run homer as part of a four-run fifth inning. Three relievers combined to allow just one run on three hits over the last six innings.
Garrett appeared poised to complete the sweep, taking an 8-5 lead into the sixth inning of Game 2, but Frederick pulled within a run on Luis Perez Alfaro’s two-run homer. Mikey Hafer then hit a go-ahead, two-run shot as part of a five-run seventh as the Cougars rallied for the split to snap Garrett’s eight-game winning streak.
"Before the games started, I would have been happy with a split," said GC head coach Eric Hallenbeck. "Having an 8-5 lead with two outs and nobody on in the sixth – well, at that point, I wanted the sweep."
Frederick started strong in the opener against Hunter Dakan, who came into the contest leading NJCAA Division II in earned-run average. Dakan left with no outs in the second, getting charged with six runs on seven hits in one-plus innings.
Parker Ferraro, who relieved Dakan, yielded just one run on two hits over 3 1/3 innings. Winning pitcher Donovan Thompson and Keaton Walsh, who earned his third save of the season, held Frederick scoreless over the last 2 2/3 innings.
"Give credit to our bullpen – we had to go to them early and they really responded," noted Hallenbeck.
While the bullpen was shutting down Frederick’s offense, the Lakers’ bats were coming alive. Noah Broadwater (two runs, three RBI), Aiden Screen, and Mayfield each had homers while Jesus Fermin contributed two hits and a run.
Frederick put on a power display in Game 2 as Cole Swinimer, Vincenzo Cusat, Alfaro, Casey Westerberg, Braydon Helman, and Hafer all homered. GC’s defense didn’t help itself, committing six errors, as the Lakers took their first home loss (8-1) and first NJCAA Division II Region 20-West lost (11-1).
Fermin (homer, two runs, three RBI), Broadwater (double, two runs, two RBI), Grayden Gillott (double, two runs), and Bryce Madden (one run) each had two hits in the nightcap for Garrett.
Broadwater, who is hitting .507 for the season, was fifth in the nation in batting average and 24th in RBI after going 3-for-6 with four runs and five RBI in the Frederick doubleheader.
"He’s having a heck of a year – and he does everything," Hallenbeck said of his shortstop.
GC 19, ACM 10
To say Garrett College’s baseball contest last Thursday against visiting Allegany College of Maryland was a hitter’s game would be a vast understatement.
"If you got the ball in the air, it had a chance of getting out," observed GC head coach Eric Hallenbeck after his Lakers used four homers and 15 hits to pound ACM and extend their winning streak to seven games.
Aiden Screen (three runs, two RBI) had two home runs while Laker teammates Jesus Fermin and Meyer Cabrera each homered once. Noah Broadwater (2-for-2, four walks, double two runs, RBI) reached base in all six of his at bats and Grayden Gillott (3-for-3, two walks, double, two runs, four RBI) was on base five times for GC.
"We took what they gave us as far as free bases [12]," observed Hallenbeck. "When they did throw strikes, we squared the baseball up and made solid contact."
Allegany used a four-run third, sparked by Manuel Cartagena’s three-run homer, to take a 5-3 lead. The Lakers, however, built a five-run response in the home third centered around a three-run homer by Cabrera (2-for-4, three runs, four RBI) to take the lead for good.
GC broke the game open with a seven-run fourth that stretched the lead to 15-6. The fourth-inning explosion featured a two-run single by Fermin (2-for-5, two runs, four RBI) right after the Trojans pitched around Broadwater, eventually walking the Lakers’ star shortstop.
Tristan Farnworth, the third of five Laker pitchers, earned the win while allowing two runs on four hits in 1 1/3 innings.
While last week’s game with ACM didn’t count in the divisional standings, this Friday’s noon doubleheader at Allegany will count in those standings.