STATESBORO - Georgia Southern Baseball got six innings and nine strikeouts from starting pitcher Brian Eichhorn. Coastal Carolina, however, got six runs, three earned off seven hits to hand the junior his first loss of 2018 as the visitors took a 7-3 win on Thursday night. Matt Anderson plated two in the first inning to give the Eagles an early lead, but two home runs in the third and one in the fifth turned the tide.

Game two of the series is set for Friday night at 6:30 p.m. Seth Shuman will go for the Eagles on the mound on Hawaiian Night. Beat the lines at the gate and pick up your tickets now at GSEagles.com/Tickets.

SCORING INNINGS
Bottom 1st - Georgia Southern loaded the bases in the first inning when Steven Curry was hit by a pitch, followed by walks to Mitchell Golden and Mason McWhorter on eight pitches. Matt Anderson did some damage with a two run single to center which gave the good guys an early lead.
Top 3rd - After stranding two runners in both the first and second innings, Coastal Carolina got its breakthrough in the third inning on a leadoff home run from Seth Lancaster. After an error put a runner on base, Zach Biermann hit a go-ahead two run home run to put the visitors on top 3-2.
Bottom 4th - Noah Searcy was hit to lead off the fourth, reaching base and moving up to second via a sacrifice bunt. An error by the catcher allowed him to move up, while a Chandler Corley ground ball to short tied the game at 3-3.
Top 5th - Kevin Woodall Jr. put the Chanticleers back on top with a solo home run in the fifth to give the visitors a 4-3 lead.
Top 7th - A leadoff walk opened the door for Coastal to score two in the seventh inning and make it a 6-3 lead. A bunt single and a throwing error allowed the first run to score. An error later in the inning at first base extended the frame again and allowed the second run to score.
Top 9th - Woodall got his second RBI of the day when he drove in a run with two outs in the ninth.

NOTES
- Brian Eichhorn delivered his fifth-straight quality start, going six plus innings, and allowing only three earned runs. The junior fanned nine and gave up six total runs off seven hits to fall to 2-1 on the year.
- Coastal Carolina's run in the ninth inning snapped a run of 20-straight scoreless innings for the Eagle bullpen. The run was unearned, so the squad still has a streak of 25 innings without allowing an earned run, dating back to March 14th against Mercer.
- The teams combined for 25 total strikeouts on Thursday night. Coastal Carolina's pitchers struck out 13 batters, while the Eagles staff fanned 12.

NEXT GAME
Game two of the series is set for Friday night at 6:30 p.m. It is Hawaiian Night at J.I. Clements Stadium between the Eagles and Chanticleers. Watch the game live on True Blue TV at GSEagles.com or listen on the Georgia Southern Sports Network.

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