STATESBOROÂ - A six run ninth inning rally came up short for Georgia Southern Baseball on Saturday afternoon, with the Eagles dropping a 14-9 decision to UNC Asheville to even the weekend series at one game each. The Eagles were out-hit 19-15 in the game, dropping to 6-7 on the year. Georgia Southern and UNC Asheville will contest the rubber match of the series on Sunday at 1 p.m. Coverage is available on True Blue TV and the Georgia Southern Sports Network.
Nine different Eagles combined for Georgia Southern's 15 hits including a 3-for-5 day from
Jason Swan. Swan also added two RBIs, matching
Tyler Martin's RBI haul for the game.
Austin Thompson scored two runs and went 2-for-4.
Noah Ledford,
Steven Curry and
Nolan Tressler each added a pair of hits, with Tressler's 2-for-4 day coming off the bench.
Asheville got a pair of doubles in the first and a three-run home run in the third to quickly take a 5-0 lead. Georgia Southern whittled away at the advantage with a run in the third, fourth and fifth innings. The Bulldogs tacked on four in the visitors' half of the fifth to give the road side a 9-3 lead through five.
Asheville blew the game open with a five-spot in the sixth inning, ending Georgia Southern's run of 23 unanswered runs in the sixth frame of the season's first 12 games. Asheville's Brandon Lankford hit his second home run of the day to cap a big day for the Bulldog.
Down to their final three outs, Georgia Southern scored six runs in the bottom of the ninth to make things interesting down the stretch. The Eagles batted around, tallying five hits in the frame with four walks, two to
Tyler Martin.
Saturday was a rough day for Eagle pitchers who allowed 14 runs, all earned, off 19 hits. Georgia Southern struck out 10 batters while walking five.
Tristan Roberts was the bright spot for the Eagles, tossing a no-hit, shutout ninth inning with a pair of strikeouts.
The Eagles and Bulldogs put a bow on the three game series on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. It is Sunday Funday, presented by The Clubhouse. Game coverage is available on True Blue TV and the Georgia Southern Sports Network.
