Eagles Complete Sweep of UNC Greensboro
5/11/2008 4:26:00 AM | Baseball
STATESBORO,
With heavy rains in the forecast for Sunday, three of the SoCon series this weekend switched Saturday to a doubleheader ? including the Eagles. Prior to game one the Eagles honored the five departing seniors ? Burt Barto (Columbus/Columbus), Jeremy Beckham (Griffin/Griffin), Aaron Eubanks (Moultrie/Colquitt County), Jeremiah Parker (Carrollton/Carrollton) and David Richardson (Dahlonega/Lumpkin County).
Thanks to the sweep
The Eagles jumped out to an early lead in game one and never looked back. Ty Wright (Montrose/West Laurens) hit a leadoff single but was eventually picked off base. Two batters later Chris Shehan (Strasburg, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) hit his second home run in as many games. His 19th homer of the year moved him back into a share of the team lead and gave the Eagles a 1-0 lead.
In the second, GS loaded the bases with no one out. Parker doubled, A.J. Wirnsberger (
Parker hit another leadoff double in the third. He advanced to third on Wirnsberger's single then scored when Adam Deleo's pickoff throw sailed into left field.
In the fourth Wright walked to start the frame then Phillip Porter (Marietta/Sprayberry) dropped down a sacrifice bunt and reached on third baseman Ray Quinones' error. Two batters later Parker nailed a line drive over the left field fence for a 9-0 lead.
Drew Murray (LaGrange/LaGrange) cruised through the first four innings, retiring the first 11 batters he faced in order before giving up a two-out walk. Sean Snell broke up the no-hit bid with a one-out double in the fifth. Deleo broke up the shutout with a two-out RBI single.
Tim Carrier lined another two-out RBI hit, a single in the sixth. But Parker and the Eagles again responded in a grand way.
With the bases loaded and one out, Parker hit his first career grand slam. It was the senior's fourth career 2-HR game, and the team's fifth grand slam this year broke the Southern Conference single-season record.
Wirnsberger followed with a solo shot, regaining the team lead from Shehan. It was the seventh time this season he and Shehan went deep in the same game. In the seventh, Wirnsberger recorded his third grand slam of the season, and also his fourth career 2-HR game. His 21st home run of the season tied him for ninth place among the GS season ?Top 10' leaders, the first time an Eagle made that list since 1996.
Wirnsberger's grand slam marked the third time in GS history the Eagles hit two in a game. The last time that was accomplished was in 1989 against Carson-Newman.
In the eighth inning, walks to Kevin Bowles (Statesboro/Statesboro), Jake Ware (Statesboro/Statesboro) and Kyle Blackburn (Marietta/Walton) loaded the bases with no one out. One run scored on a double play then Jonathan King (
The game one victory marked the fourth time this year GS scored 20 or more runs in a game during this record-breaking season.
Parker matched his career-high hit total going 4-for-4 with a personal-best seven RBI. His five runs scored also tied a program single-game record. He became the fourth Eagle this year to record 50 runs scored/50 RBI in a season.
Wirnsberger finished with three hits, three runs and five RBI. The 1-3 batters in the lineup ? Wright, Porter and Shehan ? combined to score six runs.
During game one, the Eagles also broke two season records ? runs scored (518 in 1983) and total bases (1,137 in 1990).
Martin (6-3) was charged for 13 runs ? 10 earned ? on 11 hits in 5.1 innings. He walked four and struck out one. Carrier finished with two hits and four RBI, including a 3-run homer in the eighth.
In game two, UNCG loaded the bases on Andy Moye (Alpharetta/Alpharetta) with one out in the opening frame. Carrier hit a grounder to Wirnsberger at third, who threw home in time for the force out. But during the next at-bat, Overholtzer lined a 2-run double to left for the early lead.
Snell lined a two-out, RBI single to make it 3-0. Parker got the run back in their half of the fourth on a sacrifice fly.
The Eagles plated four runs in the fifth inning. Wright lined a RBI single down the right field line then Porter followed with a RBI double. Shehan lined out to centerfield but was able to bring home a run. Parker hit a two-out RBI single to right, making it 5-3.
Another three runs in the sixth extended the lead.
UNCG loaded the bases in the seventh. Blake Nation (Brooks/Starr's Mill) fielded a comebacker to the mound, but his throw home went wide allowing a run to score. The Spartans drew a bases loaded walk to cut the deficit to 8-5, but Nation got a strikeout to end the threat.
Porter and Shehan hit back-to-back RBI singles in the eighth. The Spartans threatened in the ninth. Greg Feltes hit a leadoff home run. After a groundout, single and flyout, the Spartans recorded four straight base hits to make it a one-run game, and had runners at second and third before Porter caught Matt Gaski's flyball down the right field line to end the game.
Parker and the rest of the senior class was the first group to play at the renovated J.I. Clements. They recorded at least 20 home wins each of their four years so it was fitting that Parker recorded a career-best day in the regular season home finale.
“Today was really big to get a sweep against a team of this caliber, and a team that is ahead of us in the standings. This sweep will give us a lot of confidence heading into next week,” said Parker. “It hasn't sunk in yet (playing at home for the final time). I think it's a fitting way for the team and us seniors to close out the regular season at home with a sweep.”
Wright, Porter and Shehan had two hits apiece. Shehan drove in three runs while Porter scored three times. Parker drove in two runs, giving him nine RBI on the day.
Moye (3-4) earned his first win since early March, allowing three runs on five hits in five innings. He walked three and struck out seven, one shy of his personal-high. Despite giving up four runs in 2.2 innings, Nation worked the final 2.2 innings to earn his sixth save.
Three Spartans had two hits apiece. Wes McCall (1-6) allowed five runs on four hits in 4.1 innings.
Georgia Southern travels to Jacksonville on Tuesday night (May 13), first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m.
