Hennon Interview

ATLANTA – Chase Griffin hit a go ahead RBI double in the eighth inning as the Georgia Southern Eagles rallied from a 3-0 deficit to even the series with a 4-3 win over the Georgia State Panthers.

The Eagles (29-25, 17-12) started the rally with back-to-back extra-base hits in the sixth inning and scored runs in three-straight innings before taking the lead in the eighth inning. 

Will Hudgins sparked the rally with a lead off double in the sixth inning and scored the first run for Georgia Southern on Kody Adams' triple to left field. The Eagles put runners on the corners after Ryan Cleveland drew a walk but the Panthers (29-24, 15-12) turned a double play to end the frame. 

"Our team hung in there. I am proud of our guys fighting back," Head Coach Rodney Hennon said. "Will Hudgins was the spark for us tonight. He kind of started that off with a big hit the other way. He had some good at bats all night long. It was good to see some fight from our team."

Aaron Mizell got the offense started again in the seventh inning after legging out an infield hit. Hunter Thomas plated Mizell and tied the game with his 10th home run of the season a batter later. 

Cleveland drew his second walk of the game with one out in the eighth inning and scored a batter later as Griffin doubled on a liner through the right side of the defense. 

"It was a big at-bat from Ryan Cleveland to lay off a couple of pitches and draw the walk. Chase Griffin stepped up and came through for us with the big double to right field," Hennon said. 

Ryan Frederick picked up the win out of the bullpen after entering in the seventh inning and stranding a pair of base runners on a diving catch by Adams in center field. Frederick (3-1) allowed a lead off double in the eighth inning but left Joey Roach stranded with back-to-back strikeouts.

Chris Brown walked two batters after a strikeout of David Levy to start the ninth inning. Brown (11) picked up the save after retiring Matt Rose with a long fly out. 

The rally handed starter Tripp Sheppard a no decision. Sheppard tossed a quality start and allowed just one earned run over six innings. The senior allowed three runs – one earned - over six innings on six hits and a walk. 

Logan Barnette was tagged with the loss after allowing the eighth inning run. Barnette (3-1) allowed one run on one hit over an inning of work.

Georgia State starter Kenny Anderson tossed five scoreless frames before running into trouble the third time through the order. Anderson left with a no decision after surrendering three runs on seven hits over 6.1 innings.

The series continues tomorrow with a 2 p.m. first pitch. Freshman lefthander Connor Simmons (2-5, 3.99 ERA) will get the start for the Eagles. Georgia State will counter with lefthander Garrett Ford.

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