Eagles Fall in Game One to Bulldogs
5/21/2010 12:01:00 AM | Baseball
STATESBORO, Ga. – Michael Burruss went 3-for-4, but a late rally from Georgia Southern fell short as The Citadel took game one from the Eagles, 9-4, Thursday night (May 20) at J.I. Clements Stadium. GS scored four runs in the eighth on four hits and put a runner on in the ninth, but could not manufacture a come-from-behind victory. The Citadel moved to 36-20 on the season and 22-6 in Southern Conference play, while Georgia Southern fell to 34-20, 19-9.
Both starters were of record in the ultimate pitcher's duel with both team's aces taking the mound. Setting down a string of 14 Eagles at one point, Bulldog starter Asher Wojciechowski picked up the win and a complete game. Wojciechowski struck out nine, walked two and surrendered four runs on seven hits in nine innings. Jake Brown (Forest Hill, Md.) was charged with the loss after seven innings, allowing six runs (three earned) on nine hits while striking out four.
Burruss (Marietta, Ga.) led the Eagles at the plate, going 3-for-4 against the tough right-hander. The redshirt-freshman accounted for one of GS's four runs in the contest. Meanwhile, Shawn Payne (Stone Mountain, Ga.) launched a three-run home run in the eighth, while Arthur Owens (Fayetteville, Ga.) picked up the other RBI with a single in the same inning.
Two scoreless innings opened the contest before The Citadel posted three in the third on a costly Eagle error. Quickly drawing the first out with a strikeout, Brown proceeded to give up two singles before a misplayed groundball to third allowed the first run to score. The Bulldogs posted the next two runs on a groundout and single from Justin Mackert.
Brown sat the next eight Bulldogs down, but a solo home run from Mackert snapped the streak and handed The Citadel a 4-0 lead in the sixth. In the seventh, a fly ball caught in foul territory turned into a sacrifice fly for Nick Orvin as the Bulldogs posted their fifth run. Another run crossed the plate for The Citadel in the frame on a Matt Simonelli single.
A three-run eighth frame for the Bulldogs cushioned their advantage to 9-0 before Georgia Southern exploded in the home half of the inning. The Eagles got on base with the first batter as Burruss singled to left and moved to third when Brad Felder kicked the ball into the left field corner. Owens' hard-hit single to shortstop posted the first GS run before Randy J. Williams (Valdosta, Ga.) took a free pass, setting up Payne's three-run shot to deep center in the next at-bat.
The inning sliced the score to 9-4, but despite putting a runner on in the ninth with a Burruss single, the Eagles could not finish the comeback, falling in game one.
For The Citadel, Mackert went 3-for-4, while three other Bulldogs posted two hits apiece. Orvin and Mackert both recorded two RBI.
Game two of the three-game series is set for a 7 p.m. first pitch on Friday, May 21. The series will conclude on Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
Both starters were of record in the ultimate pitcher's duel with both team's aces taking the mound. Setting down a string of 14 Eagles at one point, Bulldog starter Asher Wojciechowski picked up the win and a complete game. Wojciechowski struck out nine, walked two and surrendered four runs on seven hits in nine innings. Jake Brown (Forest Hill, Md.) was charged with the loss after seven innings, allowing six runs (three earned) on nine hits while striking out four.
Burruss (Marietta, Ga.) led the Eagles at the plate, going 3-for-4 against the tough right-hander. The redshirt-freshman accounted for one of GS's four runs in the contest. Meanwhile, Shawn Payne (Stone Mountain, Ga.) launched a three-run home run in the eighth, while Arthur Owens (Fayetteville, Ga.) picked up the other RBI with a single in the same inning.
Two scoreless innings opened the contest before The Citadel posted three in the third on a costly Eagle error. Quickly drawing the first out with a strikeout, Brown proceeded to give up two singles before a misplayed groundball to third allowed the first run to score. The Bulldogs posted the next two runs on a groundout and single from Justin Mackert.
Brown sat the next eight Bulldogs down, but a solo home run from Mackert snapped the streak and handed The Citadel a 4-0 lead in the sixth. In the seventh, a fly ball caught in foul territory turned into a sacrifice fly for Nick Orvin as the Bulldogs posted their fifth run. Another run crossed the plate for The Citadel in the frame on a Matt Simonelli single.
A three-run eighth frame for the Bulldogs cushioned their advantage to 9-0 before Georgia Southern exploded in the home half of the inning. The Eagles got on base with the first batter as Burruss singled to left and moved to third when Brad Felder kicked the ball into the left field corner. Owens' hard-hit single to shortstop posted the first GS run before Randy J. Williams (Valdosta, Ga.) took a free pass, setting up Payne's three-run shot to deep center in the next at-bat.
The inning sliced the score to 9-4, but despite putting a runner on in the ninth with a Burruss single, the Eagles could not finish the comeback, falling in game one.
For The Citadel, Mackert went 3-for-4, while three other Bulldogs posted two hits apiece. Orvin and Mackert both recorded two RBI.
Game two of the three-game series is set for a 7 p.m. first pitch on Friday, May 21. The series will conclude on Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
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