Eagle Baseball Shuts Out #1 Florida in 7-0 Win
3/9/2011 4:10:00 AM | Baseball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The Georgia Southern Baseball team (8-5) knocked out 11 hits, took advantage of four Florida errors and threw a shutout in a 7-0 victory over the nation's top-ranked team on Tuesday, March 8th. The Eagles handed the Gators (10-2) only their second loss of the season and hurled their fourth shutout of the season, the most since the 2003 season. For Georgia Southern Baseball, it marked the first win over a number-one ranked team as the Eagles defeated second-ranked Georgia Tech in 1993.
The bottom of the order set the table for GSU all night, as freshman shortstop Ben Morgan (Evans, Ga.), who batted eighth, went three for four with two runs scored. Scooter Williams (Detroit, Mich.), batting in the ninth spot, dropped two sacrifice bunts and reached base on a hit by pitch.
The Georgia Southern pitching staff was stellar and combined for 11 strikeouts, the Florida's most this season. Chris Beck (Jefferson, Ga.) started the game and allowed only one hit in two innings. Beck faced one over the minimum while striking out four Gators. Josh Adams (Bath, S.C.) earned the win, his third of the season, and threw three innings. Adams allowed two hits and struck out two Gators.
Matt Murray (Spring City, Pa.) closed out the game to earn his second save of the season. Murray struck out five batters over the final four innings of the game. The junior pitcher struck out the side in the sixth inning and retired 11-straight batters before hitting a batter in the ninth binning.
Georgia Southern opened the scoring in the fifth inning on a wild pitch and a Shawn Payne (Stone Mountain, Ga.) RBI single. Andy Moye (Alpharetta, Ga.) led off the inning with a hustle single on a ball dribbled down the third-base line and he reached second base after Morgan beat out a bunt for a base hit. Williams moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt and Moye scored on a wild pitch before Payne drove in the second run of the inning.
GSU tacked on three runs in the seventh inning with two scoring on an infield single by Steve Cochrane (Mooresville, N.C.). Morgan reached on the third Gator error of the game and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Williams, his second of the game. Payne plated his second run of the game with a base hit up the middle and promptly stole second base. The senior outfielder moved to third on a ground out. Payne did not advance on the next play but allowed Eric Phillips (Carrollton, Ga.) to reach second base after a bunt hit. Both scored on the Cochrane base hit.
The Eagles loaded the bases in the third inning with one out but were unable to bring home a run. The bottom of the order set up the opportunity after Morgan singled and Williams was hit by a pitch. Payne loaded the bases after reaching on an error by the third baseman, but a strike out and fly out ended the inning.
Georgia Southern returns home to J.I. Clements Stadium to open Southern Conference play against Furman on Friday night at 7 p.m. The Eagles will also square off with the Paladins on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and Sunday 1:30 p.m. Former Head Coach Jack Stallings will be honored Saturday, throwing out the ceremonial first pitch as part of the Jack Stallings Day Festivities at J.I. Clements Stadium. Tickets for Saturday's game are $1 to match his #1 retired uniform number.
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 are also available online at GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com/Eaglevision beginning 30 minutes prior to first pitch. Ryan Chambers of the Georgia Southern Radio Network will call all the action.
Fans may follow Georgia Southern Baseball by visiting GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com/baseball or check in at twitter.com/GSAthletics or facebook.com/GSAthletics for short updates.
