STARKVILLE, Miss. - 11 runs in the first five innings of the game sealed the victory for Georgia Southern, as the Eagles downed the Mississippi State Bulldogs 11-4 on Saturday afternoon at Dudy Noble Field.

Georgia Southern's (2-4) offense wasted no time starting up as Josh Tate, Daniel Haab, and Sam Blancato all began the top of the first inning with three straight singles. Jarrett Brown threw the first punch with a two-RBI double into right center field, scoring Tate and Haab. Sean White followed up Brown with a two-RBI single, bringing home Blancato and Brown,  putting the Eagles up 4-0 after the first half inning of play. 

The top of the third inning saw the Eagles load the bases with only one out, with Blancato reaching via a walk, Brown taking a pitch to the arm, and White knocking a single through the left side. Jonathan Jaime brought home Blancato and Brown on a two-RBI single through the right side to extend the lead, and a sac fly by AJ Wenrich scored Sean White from third to notch a 7-0 lead after the first two and a half innings.

The Bulldogs (3-4) responded in the bottom of the third inning with a David Marshon RBI-groundout that scored Dylan Cupp, but the Eagles continued the attack by scoring another two in the top of the fourth inning, first with an RBI-single by Blancato to score Tate, then an RBI-single by Brown to score Blancato, putting Georgia Southern up 9-1.

Jaime, who had his career-first home run during Friday's game, doubled his home run total with a solo shot to right field, putting the Eagles in double digits for the first time this season with a 10-1 lead. Shortly after, Luke Odden was able to advance to third on a throwing error by Amani Larry, then reached home after the Bulldogs could not corral the ball in time, leading 11-1 after four and a half innings.

Mississippi State made some noise in the home half of the fifth inning with three runs scored, first from an RBI-single by Larry then an RBI-single from Marshon. The third run was scored from a bases loaded walk, but reliever Davis Smith was able to get out of the inning to strand the bases loaded.

No runs were scored for the remainder of the contest, as both team's pitchers were able to keep the others offense at bay. Davis Smith navigated the Eagles through the final 4.2 innings of the game, securing his first win of his collegiate career. Khal Stephen was hit with the loss after surrendering the first seven runs of the game to Southern.

UP NEXT
The rubber match from Starkville is set for 2 p.m. ET at Dudy Noble Field. LHP Ty Fisher will take the mound for Southern, while ambidextrous pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje will pitch for Mississippi State.