STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern Baseball will induct four new members to the Mason Clements Wall of Fame on Feb. 4 as part of the Evening with the All-Stars Event. The four members being inducted in the Wall of Fame are James Payne, Griffin Benedict, Sam Howard, and Mike Tidick.

James Payne (2001, 2003-2005)
James Payne was a member of the Eagle Baseball program from 2001-2005. Payne came to Statesboro from Adel, Georgia having played at Cook County High School for former Eagle, Coach Frank Vashaw. After serving the team in a reserve role as a freshman and then redshirting in the 2002 season, Payne would become the Eagle's starting center fielder for his final three seasons 2003-2005 and develop into an all-conference performer. He would be named second team All-Southern Conference in 2004 and receive first team honors in 2005 while also being voted All-Region by the American Baseball Coaches Association. Payne's 2005 senior season would place him in the Eagle Record Books in the top 10 of several offensive categories including: batting average (9^th, .407), hits (6^th, 99), stolen bases (6^th, 35), and on base % (9^th, .507). For his career, he would finish 9^th in batting average (.361), 4^th in on base % (.458), 6^th in stolen bases (76), and 3^rd in hit by pitches (57). Payne was a part of two championship teams that participated in NCAA Regionals in 2001 and 2002. 
 
Griffin Benedict (2006-2009)
A product of St Pius High School in Atlanta, Griffin Benedict would be a mainstay behind the plate for the Eagles from 2006-09. As a result of his durability and consistency, Benedict's name stands in the top 10 among Georgia Southern career leaders in: Runs Batted In (7^th, 195), Runs (8^th, 192), Total Bases (9^th, 433), and in hit by pitches (4^th, 53). Benedict would save his best for last in his senior year of 2009 as he would help lead the Eagles to 42 wins, a Southern Conference Tournament Title, and a number 2 seed in the NCAA Fullerton Regional. For that season he ranks He ranks 7^th in all-time single season batting average (.412), 4^th in on base % (.528), and 1^st in hit by pitches (24). Benedict received All-Southern Conference recognition in 2008 and 2009. Griffin also contributed to the Georgia Southern and NCAA Record 14 Home Runs in one game that was set during a 2008 contest versus Columbia University. He would sign with the San Diego Padres in 2009 after being drafted in the 16^th round.
 
Sam Howard (2012-2014)
A native of Cartersville, Georgia, Sam Howard played for the Eagles from 2012-2014 as a pitcher for Coach Rodney Hennon. Howard's development within the program would allow him to be an integral part of the 2014 team's 40-win season, Southern Conference Tournament Championship, and appearance in the NCAA Tallahassee Regional. In that season, Howard was an integral part of a pitching staff that would finish the season with a 3.15 ERA, the 3^rd best in Georgia Southern history and lowest staff ERA since 1978. He led all starters with a 2.35 ERA, a .230 Batting Average Against, and led the entire staff with 94 strikeouts. Howard turned in one of the most memorable starts in Eagle history in his final performance at the Tallahassee Regional against the number 5 national seed Florida State Seminoles. He would throw a complete game shutout, striking out 10 Seminoles and allowing only 2 hits. Following the 2014 season, Howard was selected in the third round by the Colorado Rockies. Howard would become the 16^th player in program history to reach the big leagues as he made his Major League debut for the Rockies on June 10, 2018. In 2020, Howard became a member of the Pirates organization. Thus far, Howard has accumulated 7 wins, and 111 Strikeouts in 100 major league appearances as a relief pitcher.
 
Mike Tidick (1999-2015)
Mike Tidick served 13 seasons (2000-2012) on the Georgia Southern Baseball staff as the Eagles' Hitting Coach and Recruiting Coordinator. Eagle offenses would turn in batting averages above the .300 mark in 10 of Tidick's 13 seasons on staff. During his time with the Eagles, Georgia Southern's offensive production posted five top-10 batting averages in program history, 4 top 10's in Runs Scored, 6 Top 10's in Total Bases, 6 Top 10's in Hits, and 7 Top 10's in Doubles. The 2008 Team was the most potent of these offenses putting up staggering offensive numbers, finishing nationally ranked in various categories and setting several program records. The 2008 GS squad finished second nationally in batting average (.346), second in scoring (10.3 runs per game), Fourth in doubles (2.66 p/g), Second in HR (114), Second in slugging percentage (.584), 13^th in walks (302) and 15^th in stolen bases (108). The 2008 team still holds program records for Homer Runs (114), Runs Scored (595), RBI's (543), and Total Bases (1269). That season is also the same year that the Eagles broke the NCAA record for home runs in a game with 14, during a 26-8 rout of Columbia, a record that still stands to this day. Tidick would oversee 4 Eagle Hitters earn All-American honors and 15 hitters drafted during his time with the program. Tidick's hard work and dedication would help the Eagles capture championships and reach the NCAA Tournament in 5 different seasons. Tidick now serves as a Professional Scout for the Toronto Blue Jays.