MT. PLEASANT, S.C. ? Georgia Southern scored two runs in the top of the ninth, but the rally fell short as the Eagles dropped a 5-4 decision to the College of Charleston Saturday afternoon (March 29) at Patriots Point. The loss ended a six-game winning streak for Georgia Southern (15-9 overall, 4-1 Southern Conference).
Jeremiah Parker
(Carrollton/Carrollton) reached on a leadoff error in the ninth when second baseman Brandon Sizemore misjudged a pop fly in the wind.
A.J. Wirnsberger (
Tuscaloosa, AL/Paul Bear Bryant) extended his hitting streak to 10 games.
David Richardson (Dahlonega/Lumpkin County) hit a grounder up the middle that shortstop Mike Hentz had go through his legs to allow one run in. Wirnsberger advanced to third and scored on
Brian Pierce's (Roswell/Roswell) sacrifice fly.
With Richardson running on the pitch, Jeremy Beckham (Griffin/Griffin) ripped a 3-2 pitch that was tailing into the right field gap. Centerfielder Stuart Haywood made a running catch and Richardson was doubled off to end the game.
Coming off a 15-9 win the night before, Georgia Southern looked to be on the same track to start the game. Ty Wright (Montrose/West Laurens) hit a leadoff home run for the second time in the past seven days. His fifth homer of the year quickly put the Eagles ahead 1-0.
The Cougars used three hits and an error to plate four runs in their half of the frame. A pair of two-out hits off Kyle Kamppi (Savannah/Benedictine Academy) in the second scored another run for a 5-1 lead.
Beckham walked with one down in the third. Wright hit a double in the left field gap to put a pair of runners in scoring position. Phillip Porter (Marietta/Sprayberry) delivered a RBI groundout to make it 5-2. That double would be the last hit until the seventh inning off Austin Garrett.
Aaron Eubanks (Moultrie/Colquitt County) pitched four scoreless innings, scattering three hits. The senior left-hander walked one and struck out three. A.J. Gilbert (Marietta/Kell) pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning, recording three strikeouts. Kamppi (2-2) was charged for five runs (four earned) on five hits in three innings.
Wright finished with two of the five hits. Wirnsberger and Beckham each extended their hitting streak to 10 games.
Garrett (5-0) gave up two run on three hits in 6.2 innings. He struck out seven and walked four. Jeremie Tice and Sizemore had two hits apiece.
Georgia Southern goes for the series win on Sunday (March 30), first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
