Baseball's Season Comes to an End
5/23/2008 4:20:00 AM | Baseball
CHARLESTON, S.C. ? Georgia Southern scored four runs in the last two innings, but it was not enough to overcome a seven-run deficit ending its season to UNC Greensboro 12-9 Friday afternoon (May 23) at the Southern Conference Tournament. The Eagles, who for the second straight year were eliminated by the Spartans, end their season at 33-25 overall.
The Eagles jumped out to an early lead, scoring three times in the first inning. Ty Wright (Montrose/West Laurens) reached on a throwing error by third baseman Ray Quinones to start the game. David Richardson (Dahlonega/Lumpkin County) doubled to the left field corner then Chris Shehan (Strasburg, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) ripped a 2-run single up the middle and took second on the throw. After Shehan advanced on a flyball, Jeremiah Parker (Carrollton/Carrollton) recorded his 70th RBI of the year, a single up the middle to plate Shehan.
UNCG got a single by Adam Deleo to start the third. He went to second and tried scoring on Matt Gaski's single, but Wright came up throwing from right field and his throw to Parker was in plenty of time for the second out of the inning. Two walks loaded the bases then Greg Feltes hit a 3-2 pitch for a 2-run single. After another walk loaded the bases, Andy Moye (Alpharetta/Alpharetta) got out of the jam when Corey Overholtzer flew out to
In the fourth Deleo hit a one-out solo home run. A walk and double put two runners in scoring position. Gaski hit a single to right. One run scored and Wright's throw beat Sean Snell home but a controversial safe call gave the Spartans a 5-3 lead.
The Eagles loaded up the bases in the sixth as Griffin Benedict (Dunwoody/St. Pius) singled, Parker was hit by a pitch and A.J. Wirnsberger (
During their half of the sixth the Spartans threatened again but another big defensive play kept them off the board. Snell hit a one-out single then Gaski walked. Ricky Orton singled to right field. Wright came up throwing and a relay to Southwell to Parker nailed Snell at the plate.
Leading off the seventh, Wright carried that momentum over when he nailed a solo shot to left field. His 17th home run, and first this month, tied the score at 5-all.
Tim Carrier put UNCG in the lead for good with a solo homer to start the bottom half of the inning. Gaski hit a 2-run single with two outs, then two batters later with the bases loaded Feltes hit a grand slam to cap the seven-run frame.
The Eagles got two of those runs back in the eighth, then threatened again in the ninth. With the bases loaded Wright hit a one-out RBI single.
“Our team battled all season long and today was no different. We fought right to the end. You have to tip your cap to UNC Greensboro today,” said head coach Rodney Hennon.
Five seniors played their last game for the Eagles: Parker, Richardson, Beckham, Aaron Eubanks (Moultrie/Colquitt County) and Burt Barto (Columbus/Columbus).
“We are very fortunate to have such a great senior class this year. They gave it their all this season on the field and are just as good of people off the field. As a coach I am really going to miss these guys and all the contributions they made to Georgia Southern Baseball over the past four years,” said Hennon.
Wright finished 3-for-6 with two runs scored and two RBI. Richardson, Benedict, Parker, Wirnsberger and Beckham had two hits apiece.
The record setting offense set new program standards in several categories: runs (595), RBI (543), hits (751), total bases (1,269) and home runs (114) while the .346 batting average and 154 doubles finish as second-high totals.
Shehan, a finalist for National ?Player of the Year' on three different watch lists, set a record scoring 84 runs, just one shy of the SoCon season record. He was one of four Eagles to record 60 runs scored/60 RBI in a season, a feat that had been accomplished only 15 times prior in program history. He also set a personal-high with his 15-game hitting streak to end the year.
The junior outfielder finished with a .438 batting average, fourth-highest individual average in the Eagles' history. His 98 hits tie for ninth while his 22 home runs tie for eighth-most in a season. His 53 walks also tie for eighth.
Moye was charged for five runs on six hits in 3.1 innings, walking five and striking out four. Eubanks (6-2) suffered the loss allowing two runs on five hits in three innings of relief. Barto gave up one run on two hits in one-third of an inning. Trent Franzago (Byron/Peach County) retired the Spartans in order in the eighth.
Feltes tallied six RBI on two hits. Smith (5-1) picked up the win after giving up three runs on four hits in 2.1 innings.
