Georgia Southern Wins a Slugfest 20-7 over Jacksonville
4/13/2011 3:25:00 AM | Baseball
STATESBORO, Ga. - The Georgia Southern Baseball team (20-13) picked up win number 20 with 20 runs in a 20-7 slugfest over Jacksonville (20-13) Tuesday, April 12th at J.I. Clements Stadium. The two teams combined for the most runs in a GSU game this season and split the series after the Dolphins won 4-2 earlier this season.
The Eagles tied for their season high of 20 runs and knocked out 17 hits while taking advtange of four Jacksonville errors. Victor Roache (Ypsilanti, Mich.) and Garren Palmer (Dalton, Ga.) both drove in four runs and combined for five hits and five runs scored. Eric Phillips (Carrollton, Ga.) and Palmer both picked up three hits, while Tom Richardson (Lilburn, Ga.) went a perfect 4-4 at the plate. Two other Eagles picked up multi-hit games, while Steve Cochrane (Mooresville, N.C.) scored three runs on three walks.
Four big innings powered the Georgia Southern offense. The Eagles scored three runs in the first inning, seven in the fifth, six in the seventh and added three final runs in the eighth inning. Jacksonville scored solo runs in the first two innings and added four more in the seventh on three home runs. The Dolphins rounded out their scoring with a single run in the ninth inning.
GSU got things started in the first inning with a two-run double by Roache, its hit of the game. A two-out single by Richardson plated Roache for the third run in the inning. After three scoreless innings, Georgia Southern batted around and scored seven runs in the fifth inning. The Eagles got home runs in the inning from Shawn Payne (Stone Mountain, Ga.) and Roache, who notched his 14th of the season. Richardson drove in two more runs with a double to left center, the second of three consecutive for the catcher.
Chris Beck (Jefferson, Ga.) finally took the mound after being scratched last weekend due to the weather. Beck worked off the rust over two innings, allowing two runs on two hits to earn his fifth win of the season (5-0). Jarret Leverett (Eatonton, Ga.) threw three no-hit innings before allowing a hit in his fourth inning of work. The junior pitcher did not allow a run and struck out three batters. Chris Myers (Gainesville, Fla.), Taylor Burke (Statesboro, Ga.) and Drew Johnson (Peachtree City, Ga.) rounded out the final 2.1 innings.
Adam Maxon was tagged with the loss (2-4) after giving up three runs on two hits in two innings. Brian Gilroy and Clay Kollenbaum gave up seven runs over the next 2.1 innings. Will Flor was the next option out of the bullpen and allowed just an unearned run in 1.2 innings of work. Joe Ryan got just one out and allowed three unearned runs in the seventh inning. Sean Green and Zac Houck did not allow an earned run over the next 1.1 innings before Jonathan Jones gave up three runs before getting the final out.
Georgia Southern returns to action tomorrow, Wednesday April 13th, at J.I. Clements Stadium and will face another foe from Jacksonville, Fla., North Florida, at 6 p.m.
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).
Georgia Southern Baseball games can be heard live on Eagle 102.9 FM and are also available online at GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com/Eaglevision with broadcasts 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.
