SAN MARCOS, Texas – Georgia Southern Baseball endured a 13-hour rain delay to post a 6-0 win over UT Arlington on Friday morning, putting them in the driver's seat for one side of the Sun Belt Championship's bracket. The game was suspended after nearly two and a half innings on Thursday night to be resumed on Friday morning at 9 a.m. (CT).

When the game resumed, Landon Hughes aced UT Arlington, tossing seven innings of no-hit ball with nine strikeouts. He entered with a 1-0 lead in the third, but it wasn't until a five-run eighth inning that the lead was comfortable. Ultimately the one run was enough as the Eagles advance to Saturday's first game against the winner of UT Arlington and South Alabama.

QUOTABLES
Head Coach Rodney Hennon
"I was proud of our guys today. That was a special effort from Landon (Hughes). He really stepped up big for us. We had some really big at bats there in the eighth inning after we didn't get things done early offensively. We had a scoring opportunity that slipped away when a guy was doubled off third but the guys kept battling. It was good to get the win this morning, now we can rest up for another big game tomorrow morning."

CRUCIAL MOMENTS
TOP 3rd – Georgia Southern manufactured a run in the third inning. CJ Ballard beat out an infield single and made his way around with a stolen base and a ground out. A safety squeeze with one out from Matt Anderson plated the run just before the lightning came.
TOP 8th – The Eagles tacked on five insurance runs in the eighth inning off three hits and an error from UTA. Jordan Wren's single to right scored two while a strange play allowed two more to score later in the inning. Ballard singlet to the shortstop deep in the hole. The Mavericks' fielder threw to third to cut down Hunter Thomas, but instead hit him in the back. The ball bounced away and Thomas was able to score when he was impeded by the third baseman. Kent Rollins delivered the sixth run of the day with a single through the right side, plating Ballard from second.

NOTES
- The game, which started on Thursday night at 7:10 p.m., entered a lightning delay at 7:55 p.m. and was called for the night at 10 p.m. Play resumed at 9 a.m. with a 13 hour, seven minute cumulative delay.
- CJ Ballard tied a career-high with his third three-hit game of the season. The freshman left fielder scored two runs and drove in one more.
- Jordan Wren went 1-for-4 with two RBIs plating two runs in the eighth inning.
- Friday's win means the Eagles will have two chances on Saturday to punch their ticket for the Sun Belt Championship Game, facing whichever team survives from the loser's bracket between UT Arlington and South Alabama.
- Chase Cohen got the start on the mound, working the first two innings while giving up three hits. He tossed 30 pitches, but neither starting pitcher was able to return on Friday morning.

UP NEXT
Georgia Southern will face the winner of Friday's third game, slated for a 3 p.m. (CT) start which pits UT Arlington and South Alabama in a rematch of Game Two. Arlington beat South Alabama on the first day of the tournament. Georgia Southern's next game is at 9 a.m. (CT) against the survivor. That game can be seen live on ESPN3.

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