PHOTO GALLERY

MEMPHIS, TENN. - Georgia Southern Baseball got up off the mat on Saturday and took a 7-6 win over Memphis to even the series on Ryan Cleveland's ninth inning grand slam. Freshman Mason McWhorter had a 4-for-4 day with a pair of doubles, a pair of runs, and an RBI to contribute to the win. The Eagles and Tigers wrap-up the series on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. (ET)/1 p.m. (CT).

QUOTABLES
Head Coach Rodney Hennon
"I'm proud of the guys for hanging in there today. I thought we got a good outing from Brian Eichhorn to keep us in the game. Guys kept battling today, Mason McWhorter had a big day for us after a tough night on Friday. I'm proud of the way he responded today and certainly got things started in the ninth. Ryan Cleveland delivered in a big situation for us and that's what you want to see out of your senior leader. That was a big knock and a good team win to give us some momentum heading into Sunday's game. We've got to come out ready to compete one pitch at a time all day tomorrow."

CRUICIAL MOMENTS
Top 2nd - GS 2 - MEMPHIS 0 - A single from Tyler Martin, followed by Mason McWhorter's RBI double to the gap in left gave the Eagles a 1-0 lead. Later in the inning after McWhorter moved over on Jordan Wren's ground out, Logan Baldwin stroked a two out single to center to double the Georgia Southern advantage.
Bot 2nd - GS 2 - MEMPHIS 2 - The Georgia Southern lead didn't last long as Jason Santana hit a two-run home run over the short porch in left to even the game at 2-2.
Bot 6th - GS 2 - MEMPHIS 3 - Brian Eichhorn gave up a hit, but got two outs in the sixth inning before the sophomore was lifted for relief pitcher Jacob Condra-Bogan. After the change, Memphis strung together two hits to plate a run and put Eichhorn on the hook for the loss. Eichhorn threw 92 pitches in the outing and came just one out shy of his second quality start of the season.
Top 9th - GS 7 - MEMPHIS 3 - Mason McWhorter opened the ninth with a double to left, his second of the game, and scored to tie the game on C.J. Ballard's pinch hit single to short. Later in the inning after the Tigers loaded the bases full of Eagles, Ryan Cleveland delivered the coup de grace, a grand slam off the scoreboard in right.
Top 9th - GS 7 - MEMPHIS 6 - Memphis cut the lead to just one in the ninth with a three-run home run of their own to right. The two-out job, however, wasn't enough as the Eagles ended the game on the next batter with a ground out to short.


GAME NOTES
- Ryan Cleveland's grand slam is his third career big bash and the first since May 7, 2016 when he hit a big one at South Alabama.
- Mason McWhorter's four hit game was the second this week for the Eagles. Steven Curry tallied four hits on Wednesday night against College of Charleston. McWhorter responded after going 0-for-4 in the opening with three strikeouts.
- Brian Eichhorn went 5.2 innings, allowing three runs off five hits with five strikeouts. Cleveland's home run removed the sophomore from the decision. He is 0-1 on the year entering his next start next weekend at Elon.
- Landon Hughes earned his second win of the season, striking out two in his 2.0 innings of work.

NEXT UP
The Eagles and Tigers tangle again on Sunday for the rubber match of the series at 1 p.m. (CT) / 2 p.m. (ET). The game can be heard live across the Georgia Southern Sports Network's affiliates and online at GSEagles.com.

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