Western Carolina Tops Eagles in One-Run Game
4/21/2013 12:40:09 AM | Baseball
Box Score | Video: Post Game with Coach Hennon
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Jacob Hoyle drove in the game-winning run in the eighth inning, and Preston Hatcher tossed a scoreless ninth inning as the Western Carolina Catamounts topped the Georgia Southern Eagles 9-8 on Saturday.
Georgia Southern (21-18, 10-10 SoCon) rallied from a four-run deficit to tie the game with a two-run eighth inning. The Eagles, however, left the bases loaded in the inning after Hatcher recorded a ground out. The righthander faced the minimum in the ninth inning to earn his sixth win of the season.
Hatcher (6-2) blew a save opportunity in the eighth inning after allowing RBI hits to Robbie Dodds and Zac Lenns. Cole Watson started the inning by drawing a walk from Tyler Powell and scored a run on Dodds' hit through the left side of the infield. Stryker Brown walked with one out and scored the second run of the frame after Lenns reached safely on an infield single.
Western Carolina (25-16, 14-6 SoCon) tallied three hits in the eighth inning, and Aaron Attaway scored a run after Hoyle drove a ball through the right side off of reliever Kyle Rowe. Rowe (3-2) suffered the loss after allowing one run on three hits.
The two teams combined for 17 runs and 28 hits. The Eagles finished with 12 hits and were led by Robbie Dodds' four singles. Chase Griffin added a pair of hits and drove in two runs. Zac Lenns and Tyler Avera also had multi-hit days at the plate. Adam Martin and Tyler White led Western Carolina, who finished with 16 hits, with three hits and two RBIs.
After the Catamounts opened the scoring on a sacrifice fly by Tyler White in the first inning, GSU took a two-run lead heading into the fourth inning after Chase Griffin plated a pair of runs with a base hit back up the middle.
Western Carolina scored a combined seven runs over the middle three innings and led 8-4 after six innings. Adam Martin plated a pair of runs in the fourth with a double, while Julian Ridings scored two more in the sixth on a triple down the right field line.
The Eagles scored two runs in the seventh inning before tying the game with two more in the eighth. Dodds led off the seventh with a base hit to left field and scored three batters later after Zac Lenns reached base on a two-out error. Tyler Avera scored Lenns from second base with a single.
Neither starter factored into the decision after GSU tied the game. Jason Richman went six innings for the Eagles but allowed eight runs on 11 hits, while Morgan McKinney allowed four runs and struck out seven batters.
The SoCon Series concludes tomorrow with a 1 p.m. first pitch from Hennon Stadium. The game can be heard on the Georgia Southern Radio Network and online at gseagles.com/watch-listen. Network coverage begins 30 minutes prior to first pitch.
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics and twitter.com/GSAthletics, and its new "Eagles GATA" mobile app for Android and iOS.
NOTES: The loss extends Georgia Southern's losing streak to seven games... Western Carolina's winning streak now sits at six games... Chase Griffin's two RBIs were his first since April 7th at Appalachian State... Robbie Dodds tied a career-high with four hits... Cole Watson tied a career-high with two walks.
