STATESBORO - Georgia Southern Baseball got seven innings and 13 strikeouts from starting pitcher Seth Shuman, but in the end it was a squeeze bunt from Mason Miller that gave the Eagles a 7-6 win over Little Rock on Friday night. The Eagles blew a two-run lead in the ninth, but came back to tie it in the bottom of the half. Georgia Southern left two runners aboard in the 11th, but finally got the win in the 12th to improve to 11-10 and 3-1 in the league. Game two of the series is the annual Bark in the Park Day, first pitch on Saturday is set for 3 p.m.

SCORING INNINGS
BOT 1st | LR 0 - GS 2 | Steven Curry got things started with some fireworks, legging out a triple to the gap in right. Curry scored on a Tyler Martin single through the right side. Martin came around to score three pitches later when Mason McWhorter doubled to right, but was cut down at third trying to stretch it into a triple.
BOT 5th | LR 0 - GS 3 | A leadoff double from Matt Anderson was converted into a run on Curry's RBI ground ball to second after a Mason Miller single moved Anderson to third.
TOP 6th | LR 2 - GS 3 | Little Rock got into the game with a two run home run to left which carried over the wall.
BOT 6th | LR 2 - GS 4 | Noah Searcy answered the Little Rock home run with a solo job of his own to open the sixth inning. It was his third career home run and his first of 2019.
TOP 9th | LR 6 - GS 4 | Little Rock reduced to its final out quickly in the ninth, before things unraveled for the Eagles. A hit batter, a single and a walk loaded the bases for the Trojans. A bases clearing double gave Little Rock a 5-4 lead with the go-ahead run scoring controversially when catcher Matt Anderson was judged to have blocked home plate. After an intentional walk, a single to left brought in the inning's fourth run to give Little Rock a two run advantage.
BOT 9th | LR 6 - GS 6 | Anderson got things started in the ninth with a leadoff single. A double from Curry gave the Eagles runners at second and third with one out. Austin Thompson drove one run in with a ball to second. Nolan Tressler continued his hot hitting with a single to center to tie the game at 6-6.
BOT 12th | LR 6 - GS 7 | After stranding two runners in the 10th and 11th innings, the Eagles were able to get a run across in the 12th. A leadoff walk to Chandler Davis put one aboard, while a hit batter moved the runner to scoring position. Anderson sacrificed Davis over to third for the inning's first out. Mason Miller delivered the final blow, dropping a suicide squeeze down the first base line, plating Davis from third and sending Eagle Nation home happy.

NOTES
- Seth Shuman was outstanding, scattering five hits over seven innings with a career-high 13 strikeouts. The one blemish, the two-run home run in the sixth. Shuman, left in line for the win, but the four run ninth handed him a no decision.
- Steven Curry made his first career at third base, deputizing for Blake Evans who missed Friday's game. Curry led the Eagles with a 3-for-6 day at the dish with two runs and an RBI.
- Georgia Southern's pitchers recorded 21 strikeouts, one off a school record.
- The walk-off win is the first for the Eagles since February 18, 2017 when the Eagles defeated Middle Tennessee on a walk-off single from Mason McWhorter.

Georgia Southern will make an appearance in Savannah on April 3rd for a non-conference game against College of Charleston at Historic Grayson Stadium. Tickets are on sale now for the game at GSEagles.com/Tickets. Due to high demand, fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance for the 6 p.m. game.

UP NEXT
The Eagles and Trojans will continue their weekend series on Saturday with a 3 p.m. matinee from the friendly confines. Saturday is Bark in the Park Day at J.I. Clements Stadium with fans invited to bring their dogs to the stadium.