ELON, N.C. – Georgia Southern Baseball split a Friday twi-night doubleheader, dropping the opener 8-6, but responding with a 7-0 win in game two. The doubleheader was forced due to expected inclement weather on Sunday of up to three inches of snow. The Eagles and Phoenix will close out the series on Saturday at 2 p.m.

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Head Coach Rodney Hennon
"It was a long day at the ballpark, but I'm proud of the way the guys responded in the second game. We jumped out and got some shutdown innings out of the gate from Brian Eichhorn. It was a strong effort, and we were able to salvage the split. We've got to come out geared up with the same kind of energy that we played with tonight and play our best baseball."

GAME ONE - GS 6 - ELON 8

Logan Baldwin's three hit game carried the torch in game one as the junior posted a 3-for-4 afternoon. The Eagles took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, but a two-run home run tied the game in the bottom half of that frame. The Phoenix would add a run in the third to go up 3-1.

The score stayed that way until the sixth when the Eagles leveled the score on Baldwin's RBI single. Elon responded with two in the bottom of the sixth. Two more in the seventh extended the lead to 7-3.

The Eagle offense got things going in the eighth with Steven Curry's two RBI single to right. Mitchell Golden got in on the fun with an RBI knock one batter later to cut the lead to 7-6. Elon tacked on an insurance run in the eighth to account for the final 8-6 line.

Evan Challenger pitched well, but took the loss, going 5.1 innings and scattering six hits. He fanned nine while throwing a season high 107 pitches.

GAME TWO - GS 7 - ELON 0

After out-hitting the Phoenix in game on, Georgia Southern continued its hit party in game two, taking their first shutout of the season. Brian Eichhorn was electric, throwing 7.0 shutout innings while allowing just two hits with a career high 12 strikeouts. It was the first time an Eagle pitcher has fanned a dozen since Sam Howard struck out 12 against Maryland Eastern Shore on February 21st, 2014.

The Eagle offense jumped on Elon pitching early, tagging Elon for two runs in the first inning. Curry's leadoff single came around to score when the Elon first baseman dropped the ball after tagging Mason McWhorter, allowing Curry to scamper home. Jordan Wren plated Mitchel Golden with a single to center to make it a 2-0 lead.

An RBI single from Golden, followed by an RBI double by Ryan Cleveland ignited a four-run second inning. Two more runs scored with one out on McWhorter's singe to the gap in right to make it a 6-0 lead after two frames.

The Eagles added their seventh run in the fourth inning, loading the bases with a hit and two walks. C.J. Ballard earned the RBI with a five pitch walk. From there, Georgia Southern was on cruise control, out-hitting Elon 11-3 in the second game. Curry led the way at the plate with three hits.

Eichhorn's win improves him to 1-1 on the year and drops his ERA to 2.12.  

Georgia Southern and Elon close out the three game series on Saturday with a 2 p.m. matinee. Latham Park is the site with the game available on the Georgia Southern Sports Network.

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