Southern Takes Series from State in Extra Innings

Saturday, May 16

Atlanta, GA

2 pm

Georgia Southern University

30-25, 18-12

Georgia State

29-25, 15-13

Georgia Southern

Georgia State

5/16/2015 6:22:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Hennon Interview

ATLANTA – Ryan Cleveland drove in the go ahead run in the 11th inning to lift the Georgia Southern Eagles to a series victory over the Georgia State Panthers with a 3-2 win on Saturday.

The Eagles (30-25, 18-12) led 2-0 before the Panthers (29-25, 15-13) rallied to tie the game in the eighth inning on Matt Rose's two-RBI single.

After Georgia State left four base runners over the 9th and 10th innings, Ryan Cleveland capitalized on a lead off two-base error and plated Dalton Busby with a single to right field in the top of the 11th inning.

"It was a real battle up here in all three games," Head Coach Rodney Hennon said. "Georgia State battled back and tied it up but our guys hung in there and we were able to get a big hit from Ryan Cleveland."

Adam Kelly stranded a lead off walk at second base to secure the win and pick up the save. Kelly (1) allowed a sac bunt to Will Johnson and struck out Cam Sperry. Kent Rollins jumped to knock down a liner off the bat of David Levy and threw on to first base for the final out of the game.

Chris Brown earned the win in relief of Connor Simmons, who tossed a gem of a no decision. Brown (4-3) walked two batters and allowed a hit over an inning plus of work.

Simmons tied a career high with 6.1 scoreless innings and struck out six batters while walking one. He struck out two batters in the bottom of the first to strand a pair of baserunners.

The freshman lefthander settled in from there to retire 10-straight batters before Jack Thompson singled off his leg to start the fifth inning. Simmons retired the final five batters he faced before exiting in the seventh inning.

"We got a great effort from Connor Simmons. It was as sharp as he has been all year. He got us off to a great start," Hennon said.

The Eagles took an early 1-0 lead after Chase Griffin hit a two-out double to right center and plated Dalton Busby in the first inning.

Busby drove in a run with a double to right center in the eighth inning to drive in Kody Adams and give Georgia Southern a 2-0 lead.

Kevin Burgee was tagged with the loss after giving up the run in the 11th inning. Burgee (3-3) gave up a hit and an unearned run over two innings of work.

The Eagles will open the 2015 Sun Belt Baseball Tournament Wednesday. Georgia Southern will find out their seed and opponent later today when the bracket is officially released.

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