Beck Strikes Out 12 in Series Opening Win Against N.C. Central
2/26/2011 3:15:00 AM | Baseball
STATESBORO, Ga. - Chris Beck (Jefferson, Ga.) earned his first win of 2011 in Georgia Southern's (4-2) third shutout victory of the season. GSU has already recorded the most shutouts in a season since 2003 when the pitching staff blanked four different teams, all in the month of February. The Eagles pounded out 15 hits and scored 15 runs in the 15-0 win over North Carolina Central (0-5).
Beck was stellar on the mound, striking out a career-high 12 batters while not allowing any walks or runs. The sophomore pitcher pounded the strike zone and all but 15 of his 81 pitches came as strikes. Beck carried a one-hitter into the seventh inning before Akeem Hood reached on a long infield hit.
Shawn Payne (Stone Mountain, Ga.) and Eric Phillips (Carrollton, Ga.) tallied three hits in three at bats each and both scored three times. Phillips doubled twice in the game, while Michael Burruss (Marietta, Ga.) drove in three runs on a home run and a single.
GSU did most of its damage at the plate in the first three innings before emptying the bench. The Eagles scored all but two runs in the first three frames and added single runs in the sixth and eighth innings.
Beck set down North Carolina Central in order in the first inning and Georgia Southern exploded for five runs on four hits in the bottom half of the inning. The Eagles opened the inning with extra-base hits from their top three hitters before Steve Cochrane (Mooresville, N.C.) reached on an error by the shortstop.
Burruss' first homer of the season, which hit off the right field wall below the Jack Stallings Field sign, drove in Payne who doubled to lead off the first inning. Phillips launched the second double of the inning into the left field and scored on the error. Victor Roache (Ypsilanti, Mich.) stroked a well-hit ball into the left field corner, moving Cochrane to third base. A passed ball and a ground out would bring in both runs.
Georgia Southern scored five runs in the second inning and added three more in the third inning. Cochrane doubled in a pair of runs after the first run of the second inning scored on an error. A fielder's choice and a RBI single from Ben Morgan (Evans, Ga.) scored the final two runs of the Second.
Payne led off the inning with a single to left field and scored on a double by Phillips. Garren Palmer (Dalton, Ga.) drove in the second run of the inning on a ground out to first base and the third run scored on a fielder's choice by Jesse Piccolo (Flagler Beach, Fla.). Piccolo drove in three runs without a hit and was one of three Eagles to play the entire game in the field.
D.J. Henderson (Detroit, Mich.) drove in a run in the sixth inning with his sacrifice fly, and Stryker Brown (Dalton, Ga.) plated the final Georgia Southern run on another sacrifice fly in the eighth inning.
North Carolina Central finished with four hits. Centerfielder Nate Smith singled with two outs in the second inning for the first NCCU hit and doubled in the eighth inning. N.C. Central threatened to score a run and break up the shutout after Derrell Parker dropped a pinch-hit single in front of the rightfielder, moving Smith to third base. Beck struck out Tyson Simpson Jr. to end the inning, stranding both runners on base.
NCCU's Smith made a pair of stellar diving plays in the outfield to record the first two outs of the fifth inning. Brandon Oatis worked around a base hit by Arthur Owens (Fayetteville, Ga.) to retire the Eagles without a run for the second-straight inning. Oatis went five innings out of the bullpen and allowed four runs on six hits.
Fans can use their baseball ticket stubs from tomorrow's 1:30 p.m. game against North Carolina Central for free admission to the Men's and Women's Basketball doubleheader at Hanner Fieldhouse later in the day.
To order baseball tickets for upcoming games call the Georgia Southern Athletic Ticket Office at 800-GSU-WINS. Single games tickets are available at the gate for $8 for adults and $4 for youth (3-12).
All games can be heard on 102.9 FM in Statesboro and online at GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com/Eaglevision beginning 30 minutes prior to first pitch. Ryan Chambers of the Georgia Southern Radio Network will have the call live from J.I. Clements Stadium this weekend.
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