Eagles Break Home Run Record, Defeat Jacksonville 17-7

STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern hit three consecutive home runs during the third inning, setting a program single-season record, as the Eagles defeated Jacksonville 17-7 Wednesday night (April 30) at J.I. Clements Stadium. The Eagles (26-18 overall) won their sixth straight.

GS broke the season record during a 10-run third inning. A groundout started off the frame, but from there 10 straight Eagles reached base safely (seven hits, a walk and two more base hits). David Richardson (Dahlonega/Lumpkin County) scored on a wild pitch then Brian Pierce (Roswell/Roswell) lined a RBI double. Two batters later the Eagles began to make history.

Ty Wright (Montrose/West Laurens) hammered a 3-run shot off the scoreboard in left field, his 14th this year. Phillip Porter (Marietta/Sprayberry) hit an opposite field home run, tying the program’s season home run record with 88. Then Chris Shehan (Strasburg, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) broke the mark held by Todd Greene and the rest of the 1990 College World Series squad hitting another opposite field bomb. It was numbers seven and 15, respectively, for Porter and Shehan, and the Eagles’ 89th this season. The Eagles weren’t finished yet.

After a walk and single, A.J. Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, AL/Paul Bear Bryant) lined a RBI double. Richardson delivered his second sacrifice fly of the game then Pierce hit a RBI single to cap the 10-run frame and 13-0 lead.

Making his first collegiate start Trent Franzago (Byron/Peach County) quickly retired the first two batters in the first but then walked the bases loaded. He worked the count full before getting a ground ball to end the Dolphins’ threat. GS quickly got on the scoreboard.

Wright drew a leadoff walk then Porter singled to advance Wright. Griffin Benedict (Dunwoody/St. Pius) singled Wright home for a 1-0 lead. Another single by Jeremiah Parker (Carrollton/Carrollton) loaded the bases. After ball one to Wirnsberger, Jacksonville pulled starter Garrett Dunlap for reliever Steve Eagerton. Wirnsberger would eventually draw a RBI walk then Richardson lined a sacrifice fly for the third run of the first inning.

Parker delivered a RBI double in the fourth.

David Yates hit a RBI triple in the seventh then Jeremy Gillan followed with a 2-run homer for JU’s first runs of the game. The Dolphins went on to score three more runs that frame, sending 10 batters to the plate.

The Eagles added three more runs in the eighth. Chris Banker (Martinez/Lakeside) lined a 2-run single then Wirnsberger hit a RBI double down the left field line.

Pierce finished 3-for-3 with two RBI. Wirnsberger also had three hits to go with three RBI and two runs. Parker and Porter recorded three hits apiece as the Eagles out-hit JU 19-7. Porter matched a personal-high scoring four runs.

Franzago (1-1) pitched three hitless innings, walking four Dolphins but taking advantage of an inning-ending double play in the third. JU got its first hit of the game in the fourth inning off Burt Barto (Columbus/Columbus), but that would be the only one allowed by the senior right-hander in two scoreless innings. Michael Hester (Evans/Greenbrier) pitched a scoreless fifth inning. Tony Chisman (Conyers/Salem) went 1.2 scoreless innings and Blake Nation (Brooks/Starr’s Mill) got the final two outs of the game.

Dunlap (2-1) allowed three runs on three hits, recording just one out. Gillan finished with two hits and two RBI.

The Eagles continue their eight-game stretch at home, facing The Citadel in Southern Conference action. The three-game series begins Friday night (May 2), first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m.

Category: Baseball

Published on Wednesday, 30 April 2008 00:20