Eagles Earn Series Sweep on Burruss' Home Runs

STATESBORO, Ga. - The Georgia Southern Eagles picked up the series sweep of the UT Martin Skyhawks behind five strong innings from Kyle Rowe (Valdosta, Ga.) and two homers from Michael Burruss (Marietta, Ga.). The Eagles bounced back from an early deficit for the second time in three games and pulled away with an 11-2 victory on Sunday.

Making his Georgia Southern (3-0) debut, Rowe (1-0) allowed just one hit and two runs over five innings in his first start of the season. The junior transfer struck out five batters but was hurt by two walks in the second inning. Rowe bounced back after giving up the runs to retire nine-straight batters before leaving after the fifth inning. Drew Johnson (Peachtree City, Ga.) followed with two innings of scoreless relief and helped the pitching staff hold UT Martin (0-3) to just three hits.

Burruss provided a majority of the offense with six RBIs and connected on two home runs in his final three at-bats. He finished the day with three hits and three runs scored. Three other Eagles, who tallied 12 hits and three long balls on the day, joined the junior outfielder with multi-hit games. T.D. Davis (Evans, Ga.), who finished the series with five hits in 11 at-bats, went two-for-four with a walk on the day.

"It is real fun hitting in front of Victor, Eric and T.D," stated Burruss about the heart of the batting order. "My job is just to get on base."

The Skyhawks got solid early pitching from starter Danny Kelley (0-1), who did not allow an earned run until the fourth inning, but back-to-back home runs sent him home early. Kelley allowed four earned runs on seven hits over 3.2 innings and struck out just one of the 21 batters he faced.

UT Martin took advantage of the wet outfield early in the game and scored two runs in the second inning. Scooter Williams (Detroit, Mich.) slipped tracking a ball in center field, and Nico Zych's two-out cleared the bases. Two walks and a fielder's choice started the two-out rally and put GSU in an early jam. Georgia Southern got the runs right back though, scoring two runs in in the bottom half of the inning. An errant throw during Williams' at-bat allowed two runs to score after it sailed wide of first base.

The Eagles took their first lead of the game in the fourth inning on back-to-back home runs. Burruss drove in three runs with his first home run of the new season, and Victor Roache (Tpsilanti, Mich.) followed with a solo shot over the Jack Stallings Field sign in right. Stryker Brown (Dalton, Ga.) walked to keep the inning alive after two outs followed a lead off single and set up the four-run inning.

"The at-bat before the first home run, I had trouble staying back," said Burruss. "I was looking to take the ball away with the runner on third, and I took advantage of a mistake pitch."

Burruss added his second three-run homer in the eighth inning to help cap the victory. A pair of lead off walks of Williams and pinch-hitter Hunter Thomas (Eastman, Ga.) proceeded the junior's second home run of the day and put the Eagles ahead by nine runs.

Georgia Southern plays host to highly ranked Georgia Tech Wednesday at 6 p.m. The game can also be heard on the Boomer 103.7 FM and inside the stadium on 88.1 FM. Audio for all games is also available on the web and subscription video is available for all home games at GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com/Eaglevision.

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Category: Baseball

Published on Sunday, 19 February 2012 17:29