Baseball at J.I. Clements Stadium for Eight Straight

STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern University returns to J.I. Clements Stadium on Wednesday (April 30), playing host to Jacksonville in the first of eight straight games at home. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Georgia Southern fans can listen to every baseball game on Eagle 102.9 FM or via the internet at www.GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com. The pregame show begins 30 minutes prior to the game. The game will also be broadcast via the website on Eagle Vision.

The Eagles (25-18 overall, 10-8 Southern Conference) are looking to extend their five-game winning streak. The team batting average improved to .346, along with a .969 fielding percentage and 6.69 ERA.

Reigning SoCon ‘Player of the Week’ Ty Wright (Montrose/West Laurens) took over the team lead hitting 16 doubles, in addition to his .409 batting average, 13 home runs and 47 runs scored. He owns a .841 slugging percentage and .506 on-base mark. During Sunday’s finale at Wofford, Wright hit for the cycle in the first four innings of the 19-12 win.

Chris Shehan (Strasburg, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) continues to pace the offense hitting at a .435 clip. Entering this week the Dick Howser Award finalist has recorded 13 doubles, 14 home runs and driven in 56 runs to go with his team-leading 65 runs scored. He has walked 41 times, registered a .560 on-base percentage and been successful stealing bases when on board, 20-of-21.

David Richardson (Dahlonega/Lumpkin County) recorded enough at-bats to meet the minimum rankings, entering this week batting .397 with 31 runs scored and 34 RBI. Phillip Porter (Marietta/Sprayberry) is hitting .388 with 43 runs scored and 15 stolen bases while Griffin Benedict (Dunwoody/St. Pius) over took the team RBI lead with 60. Last weekend Benedict became the fourth Eagle to reach double-digits in home runs hitting number 10, while batting .366 with 15 doubles and two triples.

A.J. Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, AL/Paul Bear Bryant) hit four home runs in five games last week. The sophomore third baseman leads the team with 16 homers to go with 51 RBI, 46 runs and 11 doubles.

Trent Franzago (Byron/Peach County) is slated to make his first collegiate start. The freshman right-hander is 0-1 with an 8.31 ERA. He has allowed only three earned runs over his last seven innings pitched.

Jacksonville (23-20) plays at Bethune-Cookman on Tuesday night before traveling again to J.I. Clements Stadium. The Eagles defeated JU at home 12-6 on April 8th and Wednesday’s game is the second of three scheduled meetings versus the Dolphins (May 13th at Jacksonville).

Georgia Southern’s homestand continues this weekend as The Citadel travels to J.I. Clements. Friday’s first pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. with a 6 p.m. start on Saturday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

Prior to Saturday’s game another Clements Tailgate event is in store. The event, starting at 4 p.m., is free to the fans. Sonny’s BBQ will provide pulled pork sandwiches, potato salad, baked beans, cole slaw and drinks.

During Sunday’s game, Georgia Southern will sponsor ‘Baseball for the Boys’. All children ages 14 and under will be admitted for free with a paid adult. During the game, Athletic Department representatives will take donations to support Joseph’s Home for Boys in Bulloch County, which serves to benefit local children in need.

Category: Baseball

Published on Tuesday, 29 April 2008 00:01