Hennon Interview
STATESBORO, Ga. – The South Alabama Jaguars scored three runs in the first inning and tallied two more three-run innings to sweep the Georgia Southern Eagles with an 11-4 win on Senior Day at J.I. Clements Stadium.
The Eagles (27-21, 16-11) pulled within a run in the fourth inning on a two-out single by
Cal Baker to cut the deficit to 3-2. The Jaguars (32-17, 17-7) answered back with six combined runs over the fifth and sixth innings to put the game away.
"They didn't let up all weekend long. They played really good baseball," Head Coach
Rodney Hennon said of South Alabama. "We had to go to the pen early and kind of put ourselves behind the eight ball. Brown gave us a few good innings, and we scratched back in it."
Adam Ballew drove in two runs in the fifth inning with a single off the glove of a diving
Kent Rollins, who had ranged from second base onto the outfield grass. Matt Bolger drove in the third run of the inning with a single to centerfield.
South Alabama added three more runs in the sixth inning on a Cole Billingsley double, a wild pitch and a single from Ben Gann.
Cody Van Aken picked up the win in relief of the starter Jared Gates, who was lifted after allowing two runs over 3.2 innings. Van Aken (3-1) allowed two runs in the fifth inning after
Dalton Busby plated a pair of walks with a double into the left field corner.
Shane McKinley walked two more Eagles to load the bases before being lifted for Ben Taylor, who retired the side with a strikeout of
Cal Baker. Taylor (7) picked up the save after throwing 4.1 innings and striking out six batters.
Connor Simmons was tagged with the loss after giving up three runs in the first inning on a Bud Collura single, a balk and a sacrifice fly from Bolger. Simmons (2-5) worked into the second inning, walked two and struck out one batter.
The baseball team will have the mid-week off to take care of their finals before traveling to Clemson for a three-game weekend series. First game against the Tigers is set for 6:30 p.m. on Friday.
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