STATESBOROÂ - Georgia Southern got five runs in the eighth inning to break open a 10-10 deadlock and defeat Little Rock 15-10 and take the weekend series.
Mason McWhorter went 3-for-6 to drive in five and lead the Eagles at the plate. Georgia Southern visits Mercer on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. on ESPN+ and the Georgia Southern Sports Network
SCORING INNINGS
TOP 1st | LR 1 - GS 0 | Little Rock got two hits in the top of the first inning, setting the table for a run to score on a failed double steal attempt in which the Eagles got an out at second and the opening run scored from third.
BOT 2nd | LR 1 - GS 2 | Four hits in the second helped the Eagles to turn the deficit into a 2-1 lead. RBI singles from
Jason Swan and
Steven Curry plated the runs in the inning.
BOT 3rd | LR 1 - GS 4 | Georgia Southern added on in the second in a conventional manner, getting a one out single, followed by a two run
Noah Ledford home run that snuck around the left field foul pole to make it 4-1.
TOP 5th | LR 2 - GS 4 | Little Rock got a run back in the fifth with a one out RBI, making it a 4-2 Georgia Southern advantage.
BOT 5th | LR 2 - GS 5 | The Eagles held serve in the home half of the fifth, converting a
Mason McWhorter leadoff double for a run on
Austin Thompson's ground ball to second after a balk.
TOP 6th | LR 6 - GS 5 | A leadoff home run in the sixth sparked a four run Little Rock sixth inning that gave the visitors a 6-5 lead. Four singles and a walk around three strikeouts paved the way to the Trojans taking the lead.
BOT 6th | LR 6 - GS 10 | The Eagles got a single from
Nolan Tressler between two walks to load the bases with no outs in the sixth. McWhorter drove the first pitch from a Little Rock reliever to the gap in left, plating three runs and regaining the lead. An RBI single by
Austin Thompson, followed by a sacrifice fly by
Matt Anderson made it a 10-6 lead with 10 batters going to the plate in the inning.
TOP 8th | LR 10 - GS 10 | Little Rock got back on even terms with four runs in the eighth inning of five hits.
BOT 8th | LR 10 - GS 15 | With the game tied at 10-10, the Eagles opted to play small ball in the eighth after a leadoff single by
Noah Searcy. A bunt and a fly ball moved the run over to third. Two walks, a passed ball and a wild pitch scored two runs and put the Eagles back on top. A hit batter and a walk scored another run before McWhorter plated two more with a single up the middle as the Eagles batted around for the second time in the game in the five run eighth inning.
NOTES
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Mason McWhorter went 3-for-6 on Sunday with a career-high five RBIs. The junior had a pair of doubles to finish the series with five of his six hits going for two bases.
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Hayden Harris improved to 2-0 on the season after a blown save in the eighth inning. He struck out three batters in an inning and two thirds of work. He allowed two hits and both runners he inherited to score.
- All 10 Eagles who played in the game scored runs, led by Ledford's three run game.
- Eagle pitchers struck out 47 batters in the three games this weekend, averaging more than 15 per game.
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
Georgia Southern travels this week on its shortest road trip of the year for a midweek game at Mercer. The Eagles fly their way up I-16 on Tuesday for the 6 p.m. game. Coverage is available on ESPN+ and the Georgia Southern Sports Network.
