Busy Weekend of Baseball, Football on Tap

STATESBORO, Ga. – It will be a busy weekend of baseball and football this weekend at Georgia Southern University. The baseball Eagles will play host to Appalachian State for a three-game series, also tied in with the football’s team annual Blue-White game.

First pitch on Friday (April 11) is set for 7 p.m. at J.I. Clements Stadium. Saturday’s baseball game start time is set for 6 p.m. with a 1:30 p.m. start on Sunday afternoon. Fans can listen to every Georgia Southern baseball game (as well as the entire Blue-White game) on Eagle 102.9 FM or via the internet at www.GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com. All three baseball games will be video streamed live via Eagle Vision.

The Eagles (17-14 overall, 4-5 SoCon) are looking to end a five-game Southern Conference losing streak Friday night. The Eagles bring a .345 team batting average, .968 fielding percentage and 7.12 ERA into the series versus App State.

Georgia Southern, coming off a 12-6 win over Jacksonville on Tuesday night, continues to lead the nation hitting 64 home runs (2.14 p/g). The Eagles rank fifth in batting average and second in runs scored (10.1 rpg), in addition to the number eight ranking in doubles per game (2.6) and second in slugging percentage (.596).

Junior Chris Shehan (Strasburg, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) has paced the offense all season long in nearly every offensive category. The Eagles’ right fielder owns a .475 batting average with 45 runs scored, 11 doubles, 12 home runs, 46 RBI, 30 walks and is also 11-of-11 in stolen bases. Shehan ranks among the nation’s ‘Top 11’ in seven different categories. In the win over Jacksonville, Shehan tied another program record drawing four walks in the game.

Griffin Benedict (Dunwoody/St. Pius) remains close behind Shehan, also putting together some impressive offensive numbers. The junior catcher brings a .358 batting average into the series, in addition to his 10 doubles, eight homers and 43 RBI.

Ty Wright (Montrose/West Laurens) continues to jump start the offense from the leadoff spot, as three of his eight home runs this year have started off a game. Wright owns a .387 batting average with 30 runs scored, 19 walks and a .526 on-base percentage.

Junior Blake Nation (Brooks/Starr’s Mill) earned his fifth save of the year versus JU. In 14 relief appearances he owns a 1-2 record and 3.18 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 22.2 innings. Aaron Eubanks (Moultrie/Colquitt County) improved to a team-best 4-1 after picking up the win against Jacksonville.

Juniors Drew Murray (LaGrange/LaGrange) and Kyle Kamppi (Savannah/Benedictine Military) along with redshirt-freshman Andy Moye (Alpharetta/Alpharetta) are scheduled to start against the Mountaineers. Murray stands 3-1 with an 8.20 ERA, fanning 34 batters in 37.1 innings. Kamppi continues his transition to a starting role, making his fourth start of the year. He owns a 2-2 record and 5.96 ERA. Moye (2-3) is looking for his first win in a month, posting an 8.40 ERA in 30 innings of work.

App State (16-18 overall, 1-8 SoCon) brings a .312 team batting average, .973 fielding percentage and 6.90 ERA into the series.

Matt Andress and Aubrey Edens are scheduled to start the first two games of the series, respectively, with Sunday’s starter still undecided. Andress owns a 4-2 record and 5.65 ERA in 43 innings. Edens (2-0) has a 7.85 ERA in five starts and nine appearances. Adam Mills and Garrett Sherrill have three saves apiece.

Jason Altenhof leads the hitting attack at a .385 clip with 37 runs scored and 19 RBI. Jason Rook (.372) and David Rubinstein (.362) are close behind in batting average. Isaac Harrow has driven in a team-leading 33 runs.

Saturday morning continues the activities as Georgia Southern fans can purchase a ticket for ‘Breakfast with the Eagles’ at Manny’s Grille, starting at 9 a.m. For ticket information call (912) 478-1500. At 10 a.m. there will be a Skills Challenge for members of the Little Eagles. Starting at 11, also at Paulson Stadium, country music group Waycross will perform a free concert in the parking lot, leading into the 1 p.m. Blue-White game kickoff, presented by the Georgia Neighborhood Ford Dealers.

Prior to baseball’s 6 p.m. first pitch later that day, there will be a free tailgate for all fans at J.I. Clements Stadium sponsored by Southern Boosters. Sunday’s 1:30 p.m. baseball finale will conclude the exciting weekend of events.

Category: Baseball

Published on Thursday, 10 April 2008 00:27