Eagles Top Owls, 8-7, for Road Win
3/17/2010 2:23:00 AM | Baseball
STATESBORO, Ga. – A.J. Wirnsberger launched a two-run home run, Eric Phillips drove in three RBI and Kyle Blackburn laced a two-run double in the eighth inning that returned the lead to Georgia Southern. Kennesaw State took the lead in the seventh, but Blackburn's run-scoring double would stay the final margin as the Eagles defeated the Owls, 8-7, at Stillwell Stadium Tuesday afternoon (March 16).
GS used 17 hits and three Owl pitchers to improve to 9-8 overall this season. Five Eagles posted multi-hit games with Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) going 3-for-5, Steve Cochrane (Mooresville, N.C.) going 2-for-5, Phillips (Carrollton, Ga.) batting 3-for-4 and Randy J. Williams (Valdosta, Ga.) going 2-for-5.
Georgia Southern got off to a good start, scoring three off Kennesaw State starter Zak Griffth in the first three innings. The Eagles used a Williams RBI single to score in the top of the second before a two-run blast from Wirnsberger put GS up 3-0 in the third.
The advantage lasted through the third as Eagle starter Justin Hess (Panama City, Fla.) retired the Owls before they struck in the bottom half of the fourth. KSU loaded the bases with zero outs off a double, error and single. Hess looked to be on target to squeeze out of the jam striking out the next two batters. But a free pass to Sean McClurken walked in the first run before Tyler Stubblefield singled up the middle, driving in two and evening the ballgame, 3-3.
Wirnsberger created a threat for the Eagles in the fifth doubling down the left field line advancing Kevin Bowles (Statesboro, Ga.) to third who reached on a single. A Cochrane fly ball proved shallow enough to hold both runners as Phillips stepped to the plate with two outs. Phillips singled to center field, clearing the bases and returning the lead back to Georgia Southern, 5-3.
Phillips drove in an insurance run in the top of the seventh, which would prove beneficial as Josh Whitaker launched a two-run home run for his first of the season in the bottom of the frame to slice the game to one-run, 6-5. A one-out single from Ronnie Freeman to left chased Michael Hester (Evans, Ga.) from the game. Owl third baseman lifted a two-run single to left off Charles Matthews (Athens, Ga.) as Kennesaw State took a 7-6 lead with one out. Matthews escaped further damage striking out Bucky Smith and forcing a popup from pinch-hitter Ray Anderson.
Arthur Owens (Fayetteville, Ga.) and Shawn Payne (Stone Mountain, Ga.) opened the eighth with back-to-back singles that led to a call to the bullpen. Bowles laid down a sacrifice bunt advancing both runners before Blackburn (Marietta, Ga.) laced one to the outfield wall in right center driving in Owens and Payne for an 8-7 GS lead.
Colin Snow (Alpharetta, Ga.) relieved Matthews in the eighth and closed out the game, retiring six straight for save number two on the season. Matthews picked up the win improving to 1-1 on the year.
Georgia Southern travels to No. 7 Clemson for a midweek match-up on Wednesday, March 17. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m. as Chris Beck (Jefferson, Ga.) and Scott Firth are scheduled to take the mound.
GS used 17 hits and three Owl pitchers to improve to 9-8 overall this season. Five Eagles posted multi-hit games with Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) going 3-for-5, Steve Cochrane (Mooresville, N.C.) going 2-for-5, Phillips (Carrollton, Ga.) batting 3-for-4 and Randy J. Williams (Valdosta, Ga.) going 2-for-5.
Georgia Southern got off to a good start, scoring three off Kennesaw State starter Zak Griffth in the first three innings. The Eagles used a Williams RBI single to score in the top of the second before a two-run blast from Wirnsberger put GS up 3-0 in the third.
The advantage lasted through the third as Eagle starter Justin Hess (Panama City, Fla.) retired the Owls before they struck in the bottom half of the fourth. KSU loaded the bases with zero outs off a double, error and single. Hess looked to be on target to squeeze out of the jam striking out the next two batters. But a free pass to Sean McClurken walked in the first run before Tyler Stubblefield singled up the middle, driving in two and evening the ballgame, 3-3.
Wirnsberger created a threat for the Eagles in the fifth doubling down the left field line advancing Kevin Bowles (Statesboro, Ga.) to third who reached on a single. A Cochrane fly ball proved shallow enough to hold both runners as Phillips stepped to the plate with two outs. Phillips singled to center field, clearing the bases and returning the lead back to Georgia Southern, 5-3.
Phillips drove in an insurance run in the top of the seventh, which would prove beneficial as Josh Whitaker launched a two-run home run for his first of the season in the bottom of the frame to slice the game to one-run, 6-5. A one-out single from Ronnie Freeman to left chased Michael Hester (Evans, Ga.) from the game. Owl third baseman lifted a two-run single to left off Charles Matthews (Athens, Ga.) as Kennesaw State took a 7-6 lead with one out. Matthews escaped further damage striking out Bucky Smith and forcing a popup from pinch-hitter Ray Anderson.
Arthur Owens (Fayetteville, Ga.) and Shawn Payne (Stone Mountain, Ga.) opened the eighth with back-to-back singles that led to a call to the bullpen. Bowles laid down a sacrifice bunt advancing both runners before Blackburn (Marietta, Ga.) laced one to the outfield wall in right center driving in Owens and Payne for an 8-7 GS lead.
Colin Snow (Alpharetta, Ga.) relieved Matthews in the eighth and closed out the game, retiring six straight for save number two on the season. Matthews picked up the win improving to 1-1 on the year.
Georgia Southern travels to No. 7 Clemson for a midweek match-up on Wednesday, March 17. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m. as Chris Beck (Jefferson, Ga.) and Scott Firth are scheduled to take the mound.
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