Baseball Defeats Coppin State in the Series Opener 12-1
2/28/2009 1:15:00 AM | Baseball
STATESBORO, Ga. - Vince Smith's (Kingsland, Ga.) walk-off 3-run home run clinches the game as Georgia Southern baseball (5-1) defeated Coppin State (0-2) 12-1 in seven innings at J.I. Clements Stadium.
A pair of one-out pitch-hit walks by Eric Phillips (Carrollton, Ga.) and Roman Grimaldi (Duluth, Ga.) set the Eagles up for a big inning in the bottom of the seventh. Smith ended the game with a pitch-hit walk-off 3-run homer giving Georgia Southern a 12-1 win in the series opener.
“I was trying not to strikeout,” said Vince Smith. “He threw a fastball inside, and I knew that I just needed to hit the ball. I was trying to hit the ball hard and put it in play."
Chris Mederos (Valdosta, Ga.) went the distance for the Eagles, allowing one run on four hits while striking out eight batters.
Brian Pierce (Roswell, Ga.) went a perfect two-for-two with two RBIs and a run scored.
The Eagles got things started early, scoring three runs in the first inning on only one hit. Matt Miller (Canton, Ga.) led off the bottom of the first with a single to right and advanced all the way to third on an error. Miller came around to score the first run of the game on a pass ball. Georgia Southern scored three more runs in the inning without a hit.
Kevin Bowles (Statesboro, Ga.) drove in the fourth run of the game with a RBI triple in the third inning.
Kallen Fletcher drove in Coppin State's lone run with an infield single in the fifth.
The Eagles added two more runs in the sixth inning with a pair of sacrifice flies.
Randy Williams (Valdosta, Ga.) had a RBI double in the three-run fifth. Williams drove in a pair of runs and also scored a run on the day.
Baseball will return to action tomorrow in a doubleheader. First pitch Saturday is scheduled for 11 a.m.
A pair of one-out pitch-hit walks by Eric Phillips (Carrollton, Ga.) and Roman Grimaldi (Duluth, Ga.) set the Eagles up for a big inning in the bottom of the seventh. Smith ended the game with a pitch-hit walk-off 3-run homer giving Georgia Southern a 12-1 win in the series opener.
“I was trying not to strikeout,” said Vince Smith. “He threw a fastball inside, and I knew that I just needed to hit the ball. I was trying to hit the ball hard and put it in play."
Chris Mederos (Valdosta, Ga.) went the distance for the Eagles, allowing one run on four hits while striking out eight batters.
Brian Pierce (Roswell, Ga.) went a perfect two-for-two with two RBIs and a run scored.
The Eagles got things started early, scoring three runs in the first inning on only one hit. Matt Miller (Canton, Ga.) led off the bottom of the first with a single to right and advanced all the way to third on an error. Miller came around to score the first run of the game on a pass ball. Georgia Southern scored three more runs in the inning without a hit.
Kevin Bowles (Statesboro, Ga.) drove in the fourth run of the game with a RBI triple in the third inning.
Kallen Fletcher drove in Coppin State's lone run with an infield single in the fifth.
The Eagles added two more runs in the sixth inning with a pair of sacrifice flies.
Randy Williams (Valdosta, Ga.) had a RBI double in the three-run fifth. Williams drove in a pair of runs and also scored a run on the day.
Baseball will return to action tomorrow in a doubleheader. First pitch Saturday is scheduled for 11 a.m.
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