Statesboro, Ga. --- The Georgia Southern baseball team (3-0, 0-0 SBC) completed the sweep over Western Carolina (0-3, 0-0 SoCon) with an 11-5 victory on a late Sunday afternoon (February 16th).

After a scoreless first inning for both team to acclimate to their first game played under the sun all season, the Catamounts opened the scoring with some small ball. A leadoff single and then stolen base by Trent Turner followed by a walk issued to the catcher Noah Quarless gave way for both runners to advance from a bunt. It was the second baseman Josh Jones to deliver a grounder in the infield to score one. 

After the Eagles struck out the side in their second inning, they were determined to wake the bats up in the third. After a Josh Tate double put him and Luke Odden, who previously walked, into scoring position, the second baseman for the Eagles sprinted home off a wild pitch from WCU's starter Davis Wright to tie it up. Two batters later, Sean Smith did his job and delivered a far sacrifice fly to center to score Tate and take back the lead.

However, the Catamounts were not leaving Statesboro without a fight of their own. After two hits and a hit by pitch issued by Eagles' Sunday starter Evan Vandenbosch, Western Carolina were able to score two with a Jones single through the infield and a sac bunt the following batter. This prompted the Eagles for their first pitching change of the afternoon where it was Carson Bryant who stole the show in his first collegiate appearance. 

Although Bryant threw in a run off a wild pitch in his first batter faced, he was able to strike the Catamount batter out and get out of the inning. The redshirt-sophomore got his first career win after allowing no runs and just one hit in 4.2 innings on the rubber, also adding two Ks. 

His performance sparked the Eagles as they stormed back in the bottom of the fifth as the Eagles' four-hit inning, including doubles from Daniel Haab, Luke Odden, and Nico Senese, was able to plate five to take a two-run lead. The Eagles were also able to score one more in their next two innings following a series of walks and wild pitches before Cade Parker sealed the sweep with his two-run blast that sailed over the Blue Monster in right-field in the bottom of the eighth. 

Joey White entered in the final inning and slammed the door shut, only facing three batters and gave his team the 3-0 start to their season. The Eagles offense produced 26 runs across the series, their most on the first of the season since 2020. 

Next, the Eagles host the Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech on Tuesday night (February 18th), where a few familiar faces return to Statesboro, and for Nico Senese and Jett Lovett, it will also be their first opportunity to face off against their former team. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. on Tater Tuesday at J.I Clements Stadium.