Eagles Hand Samford Second Conference Loss, 5-2
4/17/2010 2:24:00 AM | Baseball
STATESBORO, Ga. – Eagle starter Jake Brown worked 7.2 innings allowing only two runs to the Samford Bulldogs as Georgia Southern edged top-ranked Samford, 5-2, Friday night (April 16) at J.I. Clements Stadium. Eric Phillips continued his strong performance at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored in the win that pushed GS to 19-15 overall and 10-6 in Southern Conference play. Meanwhile, Samford, who entered the contest with only one league loss, watched its record dip to 21-12, 11-2.
Brown (Forest Hill, Md.) picked up his fifth win of the season improving to 5-4 on the year. Brown held the Bulldogs to only five hits in 7.2 innings after facing the minimum through the first three innings. Samford reached second for the first time in the fourth and scored and stranded a run in the sixth.
Bulldog starter Jonathan Stephens (5-1) drew his first collegiate loss at Samford, falling to 12-1 in his two seasons. Stephens tossed 7.0 innings, allowing eight hits and four earned runs.
Phillips (Carrollton, Ga.) led the way for GS followed by A.J. Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) who went 2-for-4. Michael Burruss (Marietta, Ga.) drove in three runs for a career-high.
For Samford, David Schulze was perfect on the evening, going 4-for-4 with two RBI.
Both teams were held scoreless through the first three innings as the game opened with what was projected to be a pitcher's duel. Georgia Southern struck first in the bottom of the fourth. Kyle Blackburn (Marietta, Ga.) opened with a single up the middle with one out and moved to third on Phillips' first hit of the game, a double down the left field line. Victor Roache (Ypsilanti, Mich.) picked up two RBI using a single to left field that plated the first runs of the game handing Georgia Southern a 2-0 lead. Burruss followed Roache with a single through the left side as the Eagles scored the only runs needed in the fourth inning, all on two outs.
The Bulldogs stranded its third runner on base in the fifth inning, but got on the board in the sixth. With one out, Stephen Ballard was hit-by-pitch before Mason Meredeth popped up to second for the second out. Schulze doubled down the right field line to drive in Ballard for a 3-1 score.
A free pass in the bottom half of the inning plated another runner as Georgia Southern took the run back, 4-1. Phillips singled to right center before Wirnsberger doubled to right center putting runners on second and third. After Roache was intentionally walked, Burruss drew Stephens' second walk of the contest, thereby walking in Phillips.
The conference foes again traded runs in the eighth inning. A Schulze single through the left side allowed Ballard to score, but a sacrifice fly from Burruss in the home half of the inning capped the scoring for both teams. Phillips led off with his second single of the contest and scored three batters later on the sacrifice fly to centerfield.
Dexter Bobo (Cumming, Ga.), who entered in the eighth, picked up his fourth save of the season shutting down the Bulldogs in 1.1 innings, walking none and allowing no hits.
The conference foes continue series action on Saturday with a 6 p.m. first pitch.
Brown (Forest Hill, Md.) picked up his fifth win of the season improving to 5-4 on the year. Brown held the Bulldogs to only five hits in 7.2 innings after facing the minimum through the first three innings. Samford reached second for the first time in the fourth and scored and stranded a run in the sixth.
Bulldog starter Jonathan Stephens (5-1) drew his first collegiate loss at Samford, falling to 12-1 in his two seasons. Stephens tossed 7.0 innings, allowing eight hits and four earned runs.
Phillips (Carrollton, Ga.) led the way for GS followed by A.J. Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) who went 2-for-4. Michael Burruss (Marietta, Ga.) drove in three runs for a career-high.
For Samford, David Schulze was perfect on the evening, going 4-for-4 with two RBI.
Both teams were held scoreless through the first three innings as the game opened with what was projected to be a pitcher's duel. Georgia Southern struck first in the bottom of the fourth. Kyle Blackburn (Marietta, Ga.) opened with a single up the middle with one out and moved to third on Phillips' first hit of the game, a double down the left field line. Victor Roache (Ypsilanti, Mich.) picked up two RBI using a single to left field that plated the first runs of the game handing Georgia Southern a 2-0 lead. Burruss followed Roache with a single through the left side as the Eagles scored the only runs needed in the fourth inning, all on two outs.
The Bulldogs stranded its third runner on base in the fifth inning, but got on the board in the sixth. With one out, Stephen Ballard was hit-by-pitch before Mason Meredeth popped up to second for the second out. Schulze doubled down the right field line to drive in Ballard for a 3-1 score.
A free pass in the bottom half of the inning plated another runner as Georgia Southern took the run back, 4-1. Phillips singled to right center before Wirnsberger doubled to right center putting runners on second and third. After Roache was intentionally walked, Burruss drew Stephens' second walk of the contest, thereby walking in Phillips.
The conference foes again traded runs in the eighth inning. A Schulze single through the left side allowed Ballard to score, but a sacrifice fly from Burruss in the home half of the inning capped the scoring for both teams. Phillips led off with his second single of the contest and scored three batters later on the sacrifice fly to centerfield.
Dexter Bobo (Cumming, Ga.), who entered in the eighth, picked up his fourth save of the season shutting down the Bulldogs in 1.1 innings, walking none and allowing no hits.
The conference foes continue series action on Saturday with a 6 p.m. first pitch.
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