Eagles Defeat The Citadel 17-13 in Series Opener

STATESBORO, Ga. – Ty Wright (Montrose/West Laurens) and Chris Shehan (Strasburg, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) hit key home runs in support of Drew Murray (LaGrange/LaGrange) as Georgia Southern defeated The Citadel 17-13, Friday night (May 2) at J.I. Clements Stadium. The Southern Conference series opening win was the seventh straight overall for the Eagles (27-18 overall, 11-8 SoCon).

Sonny Meade lined a RBI single in the first inning then with two down Chris McGuiness hit a RBI single to put the Bulldogs ahead 2-0. Meade added a 2-run single with two down in the second frame. However, a two out rally – capped by Wright - put the Eagles ahead.

Jeremiah Parker (Carrollton/Carrollton) was hit by a pitch with one out then A.J. Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, AL/Paul Bear Bryant) singled. After Matt Crim recorded the second out, Brian Pierce (Roswell/Roswell) hit a RBI single up the middle. Jeremy Beckham (Griffin/Griffin) bounced a run scoring single through the left side. Wright, who was named the SoCon ‘April Player of the Month’ earlier in the day, smacked a 3-run homer into the left field trees for a 5-4 lead. It was Wright’s 15th round-tripper on the year.

Griffin Benedict (Dunwoody/St. Pius) and Parker hit singles to start the third. Wirnsberger lined a single to right then an error by Meade allowed Benedict to score. Parker came around on Pierce’s groundout for a 7-4 lead.

The Citadel (23-22, 11-11) got one run back in the fourth on Richard Jones’ RBI double. But the Eagles responded right back, sending 11 batters to the plate in their half.

GS loaded the bases with one out and Parker drew a walk. Chris Boyce entered the game in relief, but before he threw a pitch he was called for a balk, bringing home another run. Wirnsberger recorded a RBI groundout then David Richardson (Dahlonega/Lumpkin County) hit a run scoring single to left. That single extended his hitting streak to 11 games. Pierce followed with another RBI single up the middle. After Beckham walked, Wright lined a shot back up the middle to make it 13-5.

Jones hit a 2-run homer in the sixth but again the Eagles quickly responded. Two singles and a fielder’s choice loaded the bases with one out. Phillip Porter (Marietta/Sprayberry) beat out a potential double play, as second baseman Bryan Altman’s throw skipped in the dirt allowing Pierce to score and also Beckham to score from second. Chris Shehan (Strasburg, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) hit a 2-run bomb over the trees in left centerfield, extending the lead to 17-7. Shehan moved back into for a share of the team home run lead hitting his 16th.

During the seventh, the Eagles looked to have turned an inning-ending double play but could not finish the turn. Citadel would eventually plate six runs, three coming off a home run by Meade and another run on a controversial call which the plate umpire called Jones safe on a wild pitch. Benedict recovered and looked to have thrown home in time to pitcher Aaron Eubanks (Moultrie/Colquitt County) covering but the umpire ruled Jones safe.

Eubanks would get the final out of the seventh then Blake Nation (Brooks/Starr’s Mill) shut the door on the Bulldogs over the final two innings. Nation gave up two hits, no walks and struck out three.

Murray (7-1) was charged for seven runs on 10 hits in six innings. He walked five and struck out four, winning his fourth straight decision.

Wright finished 3-for-6 with four RBI. Shehan had two hits, two runs and two RBI. Benedict added three hits and Pierce finished with three hits, three runs and three RBI.

In all, every Georgia Southern starter had a base hit and seven had a multi-hit game.

Meade finished 5-for-6 with a career-high six RBI. The Citadel entered the game with the lowest ERA in the SoCon at 4.69, but all 17 of the Eagles’ runs were earned. Matt Crim (5-5) was charged for seven runs on eight hits in two innings.

Category: Baseball

Published on Friday, 02 May 2008 00:05