Columbus – The Alpharetta Aviators (8-5) swept their doubleheader versus the Columbus Chatt-a-Hoots (5-10) Saturday afternoon, winning 7-3 in Game 1 and 5-0 in Game 2 at Golden Park.

With the victories, Alpharetta moves into a tie for third place with the Brookhaven Bucks in the Sunbelt standings.

David Burke went 2-for-3 in both games to lead the Aviators at the plate.

Game One: Alpharetta 7, Columbus 3

The Aviators jumped out front immediately in the first inning as Jacob Profit reached on an error and advanced to third on a pass ball and a groundout before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Graham Pauley to put them up 1-0.

That lead increased with three runs the second inning.  Lukas Clark drew a bases loaded walk, then Joseph Hamilton hit a single to left field that plated another run, and Profit delivered a sacrifice fly to make it 4-0.

Columbus rallied with a run in the fourth on consecutive doubles by Matt McDade and Cole Mathis, and then scored another run on an error in the fifth to cut the deficit to 4-2.  But the Aviators responded with three runs on three hits and two errors in the bottom of the fifth to seal the game.

Josh Heath led the Chatt-a-Hoots at the plate with two hits, and Jesse Donohoe added a solo home run in the seventh inning.

Jacob Howell (1-0) earned the win in relief.  Luke Davis (0-1) was hit with the loss.

Game Two: Alpharetta 5, Columbus 0

Alpharetta held Columbus to just two hits in Game 2 en route to a 5-0 shutout to complete the doubleheader sweep at Golden Park.

Jeremy Gay (1-1) was outstanding in his second start of the season for the Aviators.  The rising sophomore from Georgia Southern tossed five innings and allowed no runs on two hits with one walk and five strikeouts.  Wyatt Copeland also turned in a good outing with two scoreless, hitless innings of relief.

In a repeat from the first game, Jacob Profit reached on an error in the first time and then scored on another sacrifice fly from Graham Pauley to put the Aviators up 1-0 in the first inning. 

The Aviators then extended their lead in the second inning.  With runners on first and third, Rajan Sampat delivered an RBI single to center field.  A base hit then loaded the bases, setting up Joseph Hamilton’s RBI groundout to make it 3-0 Aviators.

The Aviators added one more run on an error in the fifth, and then another in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Justin Fogel to make it 5-0.  The Aviators finished the game with seven hits.

Chatt-a-Hoots starter Brian Trepanier (1-1) allowed four runs, two earned, on five hits with four strikeouts in his first start of the season.

Both teams return to action on Monday, July 5.  The Aviators will face the Marietta Patriots at Legion Field in Alpharetta.  The Chatt-a-Hoots will face the Waleska Wild Things at Golden Park.  Both games start at 7:05 p.m.

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