Cougars Even Series with a Gem from Powell

STATESBORO, Ga. - Behind a gem of a start from Christian Powell, the College of Charleston Cougars evened the Southern Conference weekend series with the Georgia Southern Baseball team with a 4-1 win on Saturday night. The contest was originally slated for 2:30 p.m. but rained pushed the start time back to 6 p.m.

College of Charleston (20-8, 11-3) held the Eagles to just four hits and stranded six base runners to bounce back from a 4-2 loss on Friday night. Powell (5-1) lowered his ERA to 1.11 after tossing seven scoreless frames, the second-longest start of the season for the junior. He gave up just four hits and two walks while striking out five of the 26 batters he faced. David Peterson (7) struck out two batters in a hitless ninth frame to pick up the save.

Georgia Southern (13-15, 4-7) struck for a run off relieve Kyle Owings in the eighth inning but left a runner stranded at third base after a strikeout of Chase Griffin (Leesburg, Ga.). The run was all the offense could muster on just four hits. Justin Hess (Panama City, Fla.) (1-1) threw a quality start but was tagged with the loss after allowing a three-run homer in the fourth inning. Hess allowed three runs on six hits over six innings and struck out five batters.

The College of Charleston broke open a scoreless tie with the long ball from Tyler Jackson in the fourth. Rob Harding led off the frame with a single, but two straight outs threatened to leave him stranded. Brandon Murray kept the inning alive with a two-out walk, and Jackson drove in the two baserunners with a fly ball over the right field wall.

The Cougars added a fourth run in the seventh inning to take a four-run lead. Gunner Heidt singled through the left side of the infield and stole second base. He would reach third base on a base hit from Harding, his third of the contest, and came around to score on a balk by Taylor Burke (Statesboro, Ga.).

The Eagles got the run back in the eighth inning on a wild pitch. Owings hit two of the first three batters he faced out of the bullpen, and a double steal moved both runners into scoring position. Michael Burruss (Marietta, Ga.), who hit into a fielder's choice, scored from third base on the wild pitch after it bounced over the head of the catcher.

The same two teams will meet tomorrow for the conclusion of the weekend series at 1:30 p.m. Will Middour (Atlanta, Ga.) (0-2, 4.42) is set to make his third start on the mound and faces undefeated Matt Pegler (5-0, 1.69) at J.I. Clements Stadium.

The game can also be heard on the Boomer 103.7 FM and inside the stadium on 88.1 FM. Audio for all games is also available on the web and subscription video is available for all home games at GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com/Eaglevision.

Fans can follow their Eagles at GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com or receive short updates at facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics or on Google+ at gplus.to/GSAthletics.

Category: Baseball

Published on Saturday, 31 March 2012 21:40