Eagles On Wrong End of One-Run Deficit

Friday, February 28

Statesboro, GA

6:00 pm

Georgia Southern University

7-2

Ohio

3-4

Ohio

Georgia Southern

2/28/2014 9:46:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Full Video Replay

STATESBORO, Ga. - Jeremy Cronk entered with two on in the ninth inning and recorded a double play and a fly out to preserve a 3-2 Ohio Bobcat win over the homestanding Georgia Southern Eagles on Friday at J.I. Clements Stadium.

Cronk (1) picked up his first save of the season after Ohio's (3-4) closer Corey Walls walked the first two batters in the ninth inning. After Ben Morgan attempted to bunt the first two pitches, Cronk coaxed a double play to retire one baserunner and left the other walk stranded after Chase Griffin flew out to end the ball game.

"The difference in the game was the little things," GSU coach Rodney Hennon said. "We weren't very good offensively tonight. They were better. They executed better than we did and that was the difference in the game."

Georgia Southern (7-2) got a quality start from Sam Howard, but he suffered the loss after giving up three runs – two earned – on eight hits. Howard (2-1) allowed his first runs of the season but walked only one batter and struck out three over six innings. Matt McCall and Jason Richman helped keep it a one-run deficit after combining to allow just two hits over the final three innings.

Jake Roehn picked up his first career win after holding the Eagles to just four hits and one run over six frames. Roehn (1-1) struck out nine batters and walked only two in his third start of the season. The Bobcat bullpen combined to allow only one other Eagle hit over the final three innings.

The Eagles stranded 11 men on base and left the bases loaded in the sixth inning. Ryan Cleveland drew a walk, and Garrett Chapman reached on an error to load the bases with one out. Roehn coaxed a foul out from Stryker Brown, and Tyler Wells made a diving catch in left field to rob Dalton Busby of a hit and end the inning.

Ohio took the lead in the second inning after Mitch Longo, who finished four for four on the day, scored on a fielding error by the shortstop Busby. The Bobcats added onto the lead after Tyler Wells drove in a run in the third and fifth innings with RBI singles.

GSU got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth when Chapman, who extended his hit streak to nine games with a single in the second inning, scored on a fielder's choice by Josh Black. Griffin pulled the Eagles within a run with a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning.

Baseball continues the four-game weekend tomorrow. The Eagles will take on SIUE at 5 p.m. following the conclusion of the Ohio vs. SIUE game. Josh Wirsu is set to make his third start of the season and will square off with Evan Martens.

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.

Notes: Georgia Southern fell for just the second time this season to Ohio 3-2 at J.I. Clements Stadium on Friday... The loss snapped a six game win streak... The Eagles recorded just five hits which tied their lowest hit total of the season... The two GSU runs scored was the lowest scoring output of the season... The Eagles failed to record a double for the first time this season... GSU drew a season-high six walks... The Eagles struck out a season-high 12 times... GSU failed to record a stolen base for just the third time in 9 games this season... The Eagles have now recorded a sac fly in seven of nine games this season... Ben Morgan grounded into the first Eagle double play since the season-opening Georgia series... The GSU pitching staff allowed 10 hits, the second most of the season... The pitching staff have now held an opponent to three runs or less in seven of nine games... The one walk issued by Sam Howard last night ties a team season low... Garrett Chapman extended his hit streak to nine games after a two for four night at the plate... Dalton Busby went 0 for three and had his six game hit streak snapped... Stryker Brown extended his hit streak to seven games after going one for three last night... Ryan Cleveland extended his reached base streak to nine games after drawing a walk last night... Ben Morgan had an eight game reached base streak come to an end after an 0 for 5 night.