Baseball Travels to Face Elon This Weekend

STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern University continues its road stretch in Southern Conference play, traveling to Elon this weekend for a three-game series.

First pitch on Friday (April 4) has been moved up to 3 p.m. due to possible inclement weather. Saturday is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start with a 1:30 p.m. start on Sunday. Fans can listen to every Georgia Southern game on Eagle 102.9 FM or via the internet at www.GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com.

After opening the SoCon schedule at home with a sweep of Western Carolina, the Eagles (16-11 overall, 4-2 SoCon) are in the midst of playing 4-of-5 weekends on the road. Overall GS brings a .347 team batting average, .967 fielding percentage and 6.83 ERA, which has continued to drop in recent games, into the series.

Georgia Southern continues to put up some staggering offensive numbers, despite going four games without scoring 10 or more runs. Entering this week, the Eagles ranked first nationally in home runs (2.2 p/g) and slugging percentage (.612), second in scoring (10.8 rpg) and fourth in batting average and doubles (2.76 p/g).

Junior outfielder Chris Shehan (Strasburg, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg), the SoCon’s top offensive player during the month of March, continues to pace the offensive attack leading the Eagles in: batting average (.449), runs scored (36), doubles (9), home runs (10), RBI (42), slugging percentage (.832), on-base percentage (.563) and walks (24). Shehan entered the week ranked among the national ‘Top 30’ in seven offensive categories, including second overall in RBI.

A.J. Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, AL/Paul Bear Bryant) recorded his second career two-home run game in the 7-6 loss to Kennesaw State. Wirnsberger in the process extended his hitting streak to a personal-high 13 games. The sophomore third baseman owns a .343 batting average with 33 runs scored, seven doubles, nine home runs and 33 RBI. Wirnsberger also entered this week nationally ranked in four different categories.

Ty Wright (Montrose/West Laurens) continues to jump start the offense from the leadoff spot, as the Eagles are 7-3 with Wright batting first. He extended his hitting streak to 12 games. Overall the junior designated hitter owns a .407 batting average with 22 runs scored, six home runs (including two leadoff shots) and 14 walks.

Junior Blake Nation (Brooks/Starr’s Mill) earned his fourth save of the year in a 3-1 win at North Florida. In 12 relief appearances he owns a 1-1 record and 2.70 ERA in 20 innings pitched.

Juniors Drew Murray (LaGrange/LaGrange) and Kyle Kamppi (Savannah/Benedictine Military) along with redshirt-freshman Andy Moye (Alpharetta/Alpharetta) are scheduled to start. Murray (3-0) won his third straight start last weekend at the College of Charleston, posting a 7.44 ERA in 32.2 innings. Kamppi (2-2, 5.40 ERA) will be making his second straight weekend start. Moye (2-2, 6.83) has struck out 18 batters in 27.2 innings pitched.

Elon (22-7 overall) improved to 7-2 in the league following a three-game sweep at Furman. Steven Hensley continues to rank among the nation’s best, bringing a 5-0 record and 1.79 ERA into the series opener. Hensley has struck out 46 in 40.1 innings, owns a .211 opponent batting average and is 3-0 all-time against the Eagles.

Jesse Lewter (3-1, 5.91) and Daniel Britt (2-1, 4.72) are also scheduled to start. Thomas Girdwood (2.79 ERA) has six saves in 11 relief appearances and 9.2 innings pitched. Offensively the Phoenix are batting .310 with a .960 fielding percentage and 4.42 ERA. Chris Dove has a .381 batting average, team-leading five triples and is 20-of-26 in stolen bases. Donny Jobe is close behind hitting at a .352 clip with 13 stolen bases in 20 attempts. Bennett Davis (.343) has hit 10 home runs and recorded 39 RBI.

Category: Baseball

Published on Thursday, 03 April 2008 00:09