JONESBORO, Ark. – A quality start from
Ben Johnson and a three-inning save from
Jacob Phillips led the Eagles en route to a 6-2 Sun Belt Conference victory over the Arkansas State Red Wolves on Thursday night.
Georgia Southern (13-12, 4-3 SBC) took to the board first on an RBI-groundout, which scored an unearned run from
Luke Odden. The second run of the affair came in the top of the fourth inning when the Arkansas State second baseman mishandled a hot-shot ball, allowing
Cade Parker to score the Eagles' second unearned run and stretch the lead to 2-0. The third run was scored in the top of the fifth inning when
Sean White knocked an RBI-single through the left side of the infield, scoring
Jarrett Brown for the final unearned Eagles run of the contest.
Arkansas State (15-13, 2-5 SBC) started to threaten in the bottom of the fifth inning, cutting into the lead when an RBI-double by Blake Burris scored Cason Campbell. Brayden Caskey also tried to score, but a relay from right field to second base to the catcher caught him at the plate to prevent further damage. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Daedrick Cail hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Allen Grier, cutting the lead to one at 3-2 after six innings.
Georgia Southern led the top of the seventh inning with
JD Kaiser getting hit by a pitch, bringing in
Rhett Hammontree to pinch run.
Daniel Haab hit an RBI-triple to right center field to score Hammontree and force a Red Wolves pitching change. On the first pitch from the new pitcher,
Cade Parker doubled down the left field line, scoring Haab and settled on second base.
Josh Tate knocked an RBI-single up the middle of the infield to score Parker, bringing the lead to 6-2.
Jacob Phillips was brought in to start the bottom of the seventh, where he induced three-straight foul flies. Phillips then only faced three batters in the eighth and three batters in the ninth to shut down the Red Wolves, earning a three-inning save and clinching the victory for Southern.
Ben Johnson earned his second win of the season after a quality start, only allowing two runs in six innings while fanning five batters.
Neither pitcher gave up a single walk in the contest.
Parker led the Eagles offensively with a 2-for-5 night, including two runs scored and one RBI. Tate ended the night with two of Georgia Southern's six RBI.
UP NEXT
The Eagles look to lock up the series against the Red Wolves on Friday night. First pitch from Tomlinson Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.