Eagles Drop Finale to Furman
5/3/2009 9:18:00 PM | Baseball
STATESBORO, Ga. ? Georgia Southern Baseball had a lead going into the seventh inning but Furman would score nine unanswered runs as the Eagles dropped the Southern Conference series finale 12-7 on Sunday afternoon (May 3).
The Eagles dropped to 32-14 overall and 14-8 in the SoCon, losing their second straight league series. Furman strengthened its run on a spot among the top eight to qualify for the SoCon Tournament, 21-23 overall and 9-15 in the league.
Brian Harrison hit the first of his two solo home runs in the fourth inning to give the Paladins a 1-0 lead. The Eagles responded with a RBI single from A.J. Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, AL/Paul Bryant) and Brian Pierce (Roswell/Roswell). A fielding error by shortstop Connor Lind allowed another run to score.
The Paladins scored again in the fifth but the Eagles responded with two in their half. Griffin Benedict (Dunwoody/St. Pius) homered then Will Southwell (Moultrie/Colquitt County) lined a RBI single.
In the sixth Ty Wright (Montrose/ABAC) homered to start the frame, making it a 6-3 lead. In the seventh Furman got to starter Matt Murray (Spring City, PA/Owen Roberts) as the first five batters reached and the go-ahead runs would score.
Harrison homered again in the ninth, the first of five runs the Paladins would plate off Dexter Bobo (Cumming/Darton College). Pierce lined a RBI single in the ninth for the final margin.
Wright, Phillip Porter (Marietta/Sprayberry), Southwell and Pierce had two hits apiece. Eric Phillips (Carrollton/Carrollton) scored twice and Pierce had two of the team's six RBI.
Murray was charged for six runs on 11 hits in six innings, matching the second longest outing of his career. Colin Snow (Alpharetta/Alpharetta) pitched only the one inning but was charged for the go-ahead run as he fell to 3-2 on the year.
Barry Benton lasted 4.2 innings for Furman, charged for five runs on eight hits. Spencer Hale (6-2) earned the win in relief, allowing one run on a hit in 1.2 innings.
Harrison was one of three Paladins to finish with three hits, as he also scored three runs and drove in four. Furman out-hit the Eagles 18-11, just the fifth time the Eagles have lost at J.I. Clements Stadium this year.
The Eagles will take the upcoming week off for final exams before returning to SoCon action next Saturday (May 9). GS travels to Samford for a three-game series. Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start.
