Eagles Complete Sweep at Samford

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A.J. Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, AL/Paul Bryant) tied career-highs of two home runs and seven RBI as Georgia Southern completed its Southern Conference series sweep at Samford on Sunday (May 10). The Eagles had to wait out a three hour, 26 minute rain delay to start the game, but came away with a 16-3 win.

As the Eagles prepare for the final week of the regular season, they improve to 35-14 overall and 17-8 in the SoCon. Samford closed out its regular season 17-35 and 9-21.

Wirnsberger started the scoring in the second inning, hammering a 3-run homer. In the fourth, Phillip Porter (Marietta/Sprayberry) hit a 2-run homer, Kevin Bowles (Statesboro/Statesboro) brought home three runs on a double then Griffin Benedict (Dunwoody/St. Pius) lined a RBI single to cap the six-run frame.

In the second Joe Durham lined a RBI double then the Bulldogs got two more back on a Trey Hayes home run during the fourth inning.

The Eagles answered right back in their half of the fifth when Wirnsberger launched his second 3-run homer of the game. His 10th home run of the year made it 12-3. During the sixth the junior third baseman hit a sacrifice fly to match his career-high seven RBI total (2007 vs. Wofford).

Ty Wright (Montrose/ABAC) hit a 2-run homer in the seventh (his eighth round-tripper of the year) then Roman Grimaldi (Duluth/North Florida CC) brought home another run on a groundout.

That would be more than enough offense for freshman Matt Murray (Spring City, PA/Owen Roberts). He improved to 4-3 on the year allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits in five innings. Murray walked two and struck out five, one off his season-high.

Colin Snow (Alpharetta/Alpharetta) pitched two scoreless innings, then Dexter Bobo (Cumming/Darton College) and Kyle Kamppi (Savannah/Benedictine) pitched a hitless eighth and ninth inning, respectively.

Wirnsberger finished 2-for-4, the eighth time in his career – and second in the last two weekends – he hit two home runs in a game.

Eric Phillips (Carrollton/Carrollton) and Porter finished with three hits apiece and scored five runs combined. Porter regained the team home run lead with his personal-high 11th on the year. The Eagles out-hit Samford 14-8 on the day.

Stephen Ballard had three of Samford’s eight hits. Andrew Jones (3-6) was charged for 11 runs on nine hits in four innings, walking two.

The Eagles wrap up their four game road trip on Tuesday night (May 12) at Auburn, a 7 p.m. Eastern first pitch.

Category: Baseball

Published on Sunday, 10 May 2009 20:50