Coach Hennon Interview
STATESBORO, Ga. – The Georgia Southern baseball team swept a doubleheader from the ULM Warhawks to take their sixth Sun Belt Conference series.
The Eagles improved to 26-17 overall and 16-7 in the conference after winning game one 4-2 behind a bounce back effort from
Evan Challenger and game two 4-3 on a walk-off single from
Cody Lanford.
The Warhawks fell to 20-23 overall and 7-13 in league play after dropping their seventh and eighth-straight road games.
Game OneEvan Challenger limited the ULM Warharwks to two runs over 6.1 innings as the Georgia Southern Eagles won game one of a doubleheader at J.I. Clements Stadium 4-2.
Chase Griffin went two for four at the plate and drove in the first run of the game with a double down the left field line in the first inning. Griffin finished with two RBI and a run scored.
The Eagles jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
Dalton Busby plated Griffin and
Hunter Thomas, who was hit by a pitch, with a two-RBI single up the middle to cap off the frame.
Challenger (5-0) worked four scoreless frames before Dalton Todd broke up the shutout with a RBI single in the fifth inning. Keelin Rasch drove in a two-out run with a base hit.
Challenger pitched into the seventh inning before giving way to
Jason Richman. The lefthander allowed a pair of unearned runs on six hits and two walks.
Richman (3) recorded the final eight outs and stranded a pair of baserunners in the 9th inning to collect his third save of the season.
Alex Hermeling was tagged with the loss after allowing four runs over seven innings of work. Hermeling (3-6) struck out five batters, walked four and gave up five hits.
Game TwoCody Lanford hit a walk-off single with the bases loaded in the 10th inning to complete a doubleheader sweep of the ULM Warhawks on Friday night.
The Eagles jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning again but were held scoreless over the next eight innings before scoring again in the 10th inning.
Chris Brown picked up the victory after tossing 2.2 scoreless innings and got a huge play from his defense in the 9th inning. Brown (3-3) allowed a lead off double to Anthony Herrera, but
Kody Adams threw out Herrera at third base after he tried to advance on a fly out.
Herrera (1-2) came on to pitch the 10th inning and walked the bases loaded the bases with two outs. Lanford singled back up the middle to score the winning run.
Chase Griffin extended the bottom of the first with a two-out infield single and
Hunter Thomas drew a walk before
Dalton Busby hit a three-run home run.
Trey Setzer settled in after allowing the early runs and held GS hitless after the first inning. Setzer pitched into the fifth inning and was handed a no decision after Keelin Rasch tied the game with a two-run homer in the seventh inning.
Eagle starter
Tripp Sheppard allowed one run over 5.1 innings and struck out three batters in a no decision.
The baseball team honored the five Georgia Southern University Nursing students that passed away and the two that were injured in the tragic events Wednesday with a moment of silence, helmet stickers that featured the School of Nursing logo and by painting "GSUSTRONG" on the field.
The series concludes Sunday with a 1 p.m. first pitch.
Connor Simmons (2-3, 3.29 ERA) will get the start on the mound. ULM has not announced a starter. The Eagles will honor local heroes at the game with Local Heroes Day and Sunday will also be Junior Eagle Club Sunday Funday.
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