Eagles Open Wofford Series with Win
5/18/2012 8:40:16 AM | Baseball
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Behind solid pitching and four runs over the final three innings, the Georgia Southern Baseball team rallied to defeat the Wofford Terriers 7-4 in the series opener at Russell C. King Field. The Eagles also got a new career hits leader in the third inning when Eric Phillips (Carrollton, Ga.) dropped a liner in front of the left fielder for his 327th career hit.
"Its a great feeling to know I will go down as one of the great hitters in Georgia Southern history," said the senior co-captain Phillips. "It [the hit] was a 3-1 slider that I got just enough to get over the head of the shortstop."
Georgia Southern (30-24, 15-13) rallied from a 4-3 deficit in the seventh inning and scored two runs on two hits and an error to take a one-run lead. A single from Chase Griffin (Leesburg, Ga.) drove in a lead off double by Phillips to score the first run of the inning and tie the ball game at 4-4. After two bunts moved Griffin to third base, Hunter Thomas (Johns Creek, Ga.) drew a bases-loaded walk to drive in the winning run.
The runs gave Chris Beck (Jefferson, Ga.) his first win since April 6th at Davidson. Beck (5-7) allowed four runs - two earned runs - on six hits over six strong frames. Beck gave up three runs over the first three frames but settled down to strike out six batters over the final three frames.
The win also gave the Eagles their 13th-straight season of 30 or more wins, and Head Coach Rodney Hennon's 15th-straight season. Hennon now ranks 9th among active head coaches in that category and has led every team he has coached to 30+ wins.
GSU jumped out to an early 2-0 lead but found itself tied at 3-3 after the third inning. After an error by the left fielder Matthew Pelt allowed the game's first run to score, Phillips drove in a second run in the first inning with a sacrifice fly. Beck gave up a sacrifice fly of his own in the bottom of the first and allowed two runs in the third inning after loading the bases.
Wofford broke open a 3-3 tie in the sixth inning and took a one-run lead. Beck gave up a lead off single to Konstantine Diamaduros to start the inning but coaxed a fly out and struck out Luke Feisal to record two quick outs. The junior right-hander was unable to get out of the inning unscathed after James Plaisted struck for a RBI double.
Jarret Leverett (Eatonton, Ga.) came on in relief after the Eagles took a one-run lead in the top of the seventh inning. The evening did not start well for Leverett, who walked the bases loaded in the seventh inning, but he bounced back to record his team-best sixth save. The senior left-hander struck out four of the final seven batters he faced to close the book on the Terriers.
The Eagles added two insurance runs in the 9th inning on a two RBI double by T.D. Davis (Evans, Ga.). A pair of walks by J.D. Osborne led off the inning and after a passed ball, both runners scored on Davis' extra-base hit to right center.
The three-game series concludes tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. and game three will follow at 5 p.m.
All baseball games this season can be heard on the Boomer 103.7 FM and inside J.I. Clements Stadium on 88.1 FM. Audio for all games is also available on the web and subscription video is available for all home games at GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com/Eaglevision.
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