Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Georgia Southern University Athletics

Logan Baldwin
Logan Baldwin drove in the game's winning run on Friday night
4
Winner Georgia Southern GASO 28-18, 13-12 SBC
3
South Alabama USA 35-13, 18-4 SBC
Winner
Georgia Southern GASO
28-18, 13-12 SBC
4
Final
3
South Alabama USA
35-13, 18-4 SBC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E
Georgia Southern GASO 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 1 4 7 1
South Alabama USA 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 3 8 1

W: Hughes, Landon (3-2) L: Dolloff, Mike (2-4)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Eagles Down No. 22 South Alabama to Open Weekend Series

Jaguars drop their first Sun Belt game at home this season

MOBILE, ALA. – Georgia Southern Baseball handed No. 22 South Alabama its first home loss in conference play, taking a 4-3 win over the Jaguars in 10 innings. Logan Baldwin hit a sacrifice fly to center in the 10th, driving in CJ Ballard from third to give the Eagles the crucial win. Game Two of the series is set for Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. (ET)/6:30 p.m. (CT) from USA's Eddie Stanky Field.

Evan Challenger went 6.1 innings and gave up two runs while scattering five hits. He was in line for the win until the Jaguars tied the game in the 9th, forcing the extra frame. Landon Hughes worked the final two innings, first blowing the save by giving up run before working a clean 10th to take his third win of the season.

The Eagles improve to 28-18 on the year and 13-12 in the Sun Belt. South Alabama falls to 35-13 and 18-4 in the league.

QUOTABLES
Head Coach Rodney Hennon
"It was definitely a good start to the weekend. I thought we battled all night long as a team. Evan Challenger competed for us and both Connor (Simmons) and Landon (Hughes) battled well out of the bullpen. We were able to find a way to hang in there and get the win in 10 innings. Now we've got to come out ready to compete tomorrow."

CRUCIAL MOMENTS
TOP 5TH – Cal Baker worked a leadoff walk and worked his way around to third with small ball and a ground ball to third. A wild pitch with two outs allowed Baker to scamper home, giving the Eagles a 1-0 lead before posting their first hit of the night.
BOTTOM 5TH – South Alabama's response was quick, posting two runs in the home half of the fifth. The Jaguars played small ball to set the table for their first run, but three-straight hits loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly to right gave the Jaguars a 2-1 lead with five innings in the books.
TOP 7TH – A Jordan Wren hit batter followed by a nifty hit and run put runners on the corners for Hunter Thomas. The Eagle designated hitter tied the game at 1-1 with a safety squeeze single that handcuffed the South Alabama pitcher. A swinging bunt later in the inning by CJ Ballard gave the Eagles a 3-2 lead.
BOTTOM 9TH – South Alabama tied the game by taking advantage of a leadoff single in the ninth. A pair of stolen bases moved the runner around to third, but a sharply hit single with the infield in squared the game at 3-3. The Jaguars loaded the bases later in the inning, but a strikeout and a fly out to right sent the game to extra innings.
TOP 10TH – CJ Ballard got on base with a hit to second and moved up with a throwing error. Small ball and a sacrifice fly by Logan Baldwin put the Eagles up 4-3

NOTES
- The Eagles got three runs off Preseason Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year Kevin Hill. He took a no-hitter into the seventh despite the Eagles' run in the fifth inning. The two-run seventh inning scuttled his no-hit bid. The Eagles were two outs from handing Hill his first Sun Belt loss since 2014, but the Jaguars' run in the ninth got him off the hook.
- Hunter Thomas and CJ Ballard each had two-hit games on Friday night with a run scored. Ballard drove in a run in the seventh while Thomas exited for a pinch runner in the eighth.
- Georgia Southern entered the game with 58 sacrifice bunts this season and added three to that total on Friday. The Eagles rank fourth in the nation for sacrifice bunts.
- The Eagles are now 2-2 this season against opponents ranked in the Top-25. The Eagles defeated No. 24 College of Charleston on April 5, but dropped two games to Georgia Tech when they were ranked No. 17 and No. 18.

UP NEXT
Georgia Southern and South Alabama will reset for game two of the series, set for Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. (CT)/7:30 p.m. (ET). Chase Cohen will get the ball for the Eagles on the mound.

Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA. Fans can purchase tickets to Georgia Southern Athletics events by visiting GSEagles.com/Tickets.
Print Friendly Version