Eagles Win Opener Against App State 13-7

STATESBORO, Ga. –  A pair of 3-run doubles keyed Georgia Southern’s 13-7 Southern Conference victory over Appalachian State Friday night (April 11) at J.I. Clements Stadium. The Eagles snapped a five-game conference losing streak, improving to 18-14 overall and 5-5 in league play.

Jason Altenhof led off the game for Appy hitting Drew Murray’s (LaGrange/LaGrange) 3-2 pitch down the right field line for his third home run of the year. The Eagles had an answer of their own.

Ty Wright (Montrose/West Laurens) hit his fourth leadoff home run this year, ninth homer overall, to tie the score. Phillip Porter (Marietta/Sprayberry) reached on an infield single then Chris Shehan (Strasburg, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) added to his team-leading walk total. Griffin Benedict (Dunwoody/St. Pius) reached on a catchers interference to load the bases. Jeremiah Parker (Carrollton/Carrollton) cleared the paths thanks to a double in the right field gap for a 4-1 lead.

In the third, Shehan reached on an infield single. He stole second then scored on Benedict’s single.

App State (16-19, 1-9) put two on base in the third but Murray got David Rubinstein on a foul out to end the inning. The Mountaineers got a leadoff single in the fourth but Murray got a strikeout and flyball for two quick outs. A throwing error and hit batter loaded the bases. Jerod Faggart walked to bring home a run. Altenhof lined a shot off Murray’s leg for an infield single. The junior right-hander walked it off then stayed in the game to get Jason Rook swinging to end the threat.

During the fifth ASU got a pair of singles to leadoff. They advanced on a wild pitch then Brett Stewart brought home one run on a sacrifice fly. Two walks again loaded the bases but Murray got an inning-ending ground out to maintain a 5-4 lead.

GS took advantage of three walks in the fifth to extend the margin. Shehan walked, stole second then Benedict walked. Parker worked the count full before drawing a walk that chased starter Matt Andress. Adam Mills got a flyball for the second out. David Richardson (Dahlonega/Lumpkin County) lined the first pitch into the right field gap, nearly the same spot as Parker’s first inning double, which again cleared the bases.

Jeremy Beckham (Griffin/Griffin) was hit by a pitch to start the sixth. He stole second then scored on Wright’s RBI double. After a groundout that advanced Wright to third, Shehan singled past a drawn-in infield. Benedict hit his first home run in 10 games, a 2-run shot to centerfield. His ninth homer of the year extended the Eagles’ lead to 12-4.

Stewart lined a 2-run homer down the left field line in the eighth. Porter smacked his fourth round-tripper of the year, a solo shot to straightaway center to start the Eagles’ half of the eighth. App finished off the scoring when Adam Beasley hit a solo homer in the ninth.

According to Murray, having the offense getting off to a fast start was a big key.

“The offense really gave us a lift getting on top early which made it easier to pitch against a pretty good lineup. I was able to work ahead and put myself in a pitchers count,” said Murray. “I think it’s a huge win to get the first one of the series out of the way and snap that SoCon losing streak.”

Wright, Porter, Shehan, Benedict and Parker all had two hits apiece, accounting for 10 of the team’s 12 hits. They also scored 12 runs and drove in 10. Shehan matched a season-high scoring four times. He reached base in all five plate appearances, two hits and three walks. Benedict, Parker and Richardson had three RBI apiece.

Murray (4-1) gave up four runs (two earned) off six hits in five innings. He walked five and struck out five. Charlie Strohecker (Alpharetta/Milton) pitched two scoreless innings.

Andress (4-3) was charged for eight runs (seven earned) on five hits in 4.1 innings. He struck out two and walked five. Altenhof had three hits and two RBI.

Category: Baseball

Published on Friday, 11 April 2008 00:08