Baseball Shut Out in Series Opener
4/13/2013 1:29:34 AM | Baseball
Box Score | Video: Post Game with Coach Hennon
STATESBORO, Ga. - Austin Pritcher tossed seven scoreless innings and The Citadel Bulldogs hit three home runs to win the Southern Conference series opener against the Georgia Southern Eagles 11-0 at J.I. Clements Stadium.
The Citadel (18-17, 7-6 SoCon) earned their second shutout of the season after getting out to an early 2-0 lead and jumping ahead 5-0 after a three-run fifth inning. The big blow though came on a grand slam by Calvin Orth in the eighth inning. Orth hit a ball deep to center field for his second home run of the game.
It was the third time this season that Georgia Southern (21-12, 10-6 SoCon) has been shut out, and the loss snapped a nine-game home winning streak. Pritcher held the Eagles hitless through 3.2 innings before Robbie Dodds singled with two outs in the fourth inning. Dodds finished with two hits, while Arthur Owens added a pair of base hits.
Pritcher (4-2) allowed five hits and two walks while striking out seven to earn the win. The senior righthander worked around a lead off walk in the second inning and recorded a fly out in the sixth inning to strand three base runners.
Ben Morgan led off the frame with a double but was caught in a run down attempting to steal third base for the second out of the inning. GSU, however, loaded the bases with a walk and hits by Dodds and Owens before Pritcher coaxed a ground out from Zac Lenns to end the inning.
Sam Howard (5-4) was tagged with the loss after surrendering six runs – five earned – on 11 hits and three walks. Howard threw six innings and struck out three batters. Redshirt freshman Clint Taylor made his career debut in the ninth inning and worked around a base hit to record a scoreless frame.
Calvin Orth hit the first of his two home runs in the second inning to start the scoring for the Bulldogs. Orth hit a solo shot around the foul pole in right field for his third homer of the season.
Mason Davis hit a solo home run to centerfield to start a three-run fifth inning for The Citadel. A double steal put Hughston Armstrong and Drew DeKerlegand in scoring position before Johnathan Stokes singled through the left side to plate two runs.
After scoring a single run in the seventh inning, the Bulldogs scored five in the eighth inning. The Citadel loaded the bases on an infield-bunt single by Joe Jackson and scored the first run after DeKerlegand was hit by a pitch. Orth hit a deep fly ball to center field with two-outs to unload the bases.
Baseball caps off an event-filled Saturday with a 5 p.m. first pitch. Game two in the three-game series will feature senior righthander Justin Hess and Logan Cribb. It will be 90's day at the ball park.
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