Two-Out Hitting Keys Eagles' 20-2 Win

DAVIDSON, N.C. – Georgia Southern recorded 12 RBI with two outs and cruised to a 20-2 win at Davidson Saturday afternoon (April 19). A.J. Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, AL/Paul Bear Bryant) hit two home runs and drove in six as the Eagles improved to 20-17 overall and 7-7 in the Southern Conference.

For the second straight game, Ty Wright (Montrose/West Lauren) led off the game with a home run – taking a 1-2 pitch over the left field wall. It was his sixth leadoff shot this year and 11th round-tripper overall, and the Eagles weren’t done.

Phillip Porter (Marietta/Sprayberry) reached on an error then scored on Chris Shehan’s (Strasburg, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) second triple of the year. He scored on Jeremiah Parker’s (Carrollton/Carrollton) sacrifice fly, spotting the Eagles a 3-0 lead after one.

A two-out rally in the second inning helped break the game open. Griffin Benedict (Dunwoody/St. Pius) dropped a 2-run single down the left field line. He stole second and scored on Parker’s RBI double. Wirnsberger hit a 2-run shot down the right field line extending the lead to 8-0.

Three straight singles, the last from Tommy Piacenza, got the Wildcats (9-24, 1-13) on the scoreboard in the fourth. Wright matched his career-high RBI total for the second straight game when he lined a 2-run double with two down in the fifth. Hugh Eden hit a leadoff double in the fifth and scored on Zach Kayne’s single up the middle.

But the run support was more than enough for junior Kyle Kamppi (Savannah/Benedictine Academy), who turned in another solid start pitching five innings.

In the sixth, Davidson relief pitcher Andy Bass got two quick outs but the Eagles’ two-out hitting factored in again. Parker hit his second double of the game and scored on Wirnsberger’s 12th home run of the year. The sophomore third baseman moved into a share of the team lead. David Richardson (Dahlonega/Lumpkin County) singled then Brian Pierce (Roswell/Roswell) doubled. Kevin Bowles (Statesboro/Statesboro) dropped a 2-run single into shallow right field. Wright doubled and would eventually score when Eden in centerfield could not handle Shehan’s RBI single. That single allowed two runs to score for a 16-2 lead.

In the ninth GS loaded the bases without recording an out. Wirnsberger lined a 2-run double down the line then Richardson and Jake Ware (Statesboro/Statesboro) recorded back-to-back RBI groundouts for the final margin.

The Eagles finished the game 13-of-22 batting with two outs.

“Getting three runs right off the bat was really good. I’m glad I went out and held them to zero early. You can be a lot more aggressive when the guys behind you are hitting and giving you run support like that,” said Kamppi. “(Pitching) Coach (Jason) Beverlin kept telling me that even if you fall behind in the count, stay with the pitches and be aggressive. Good things will happen. If you take a pitch-by-pitch approach the walks will go down.”

That advice has worked for Kammpi who did not allow a walk in his second straight start. The junior right-hander (3-2) was charged for two runs on eight hits in five innings. His six strikeouts were the second-highest total in his Georgia Southern career.

Wirnsberger recorded four hits for the third time in his career and also had his third-ever 2-HR game. He drove in a season-high six runs, one off his personal-best.

Wright set a career-high with four hits in addition to his three RBI and two runs scored. Shehan tallied three hits and Richardson had two. Bowles equaled a career-high of two hits and registered two RBI, entering the game with just three career RBI.

A.J. Gilbert (Marietta/Kell), Dave Rigdon (Cincinnati, OH/Elder) and Roman Grimaldi (Duluth/Northside) combined to give up one hit in four scoreless innings of work out of the bullpen.

Chris Kennedy (0-5) and Andy Bass combined to allow 16 runs (14 earned) on 16 hits and four walks. Kayne and Weiss had two hits apiece as the Eagles held a 21-9 edge.

Georgia Southern goes for the series sweep on Sunday (April 20), first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.

Category: Baseball

Published on Saturday, 19 April 2008 00:21