SERIES PREVIEW: Eagles Set to Battle Bulls in the Teams' First-Ever Series
2/20/2025 4:00:00 PM | Baseball
Statesboro, Ga. --- The Georgia Southern baseball team (3-1, 0-0 SBC) will host the South Florida Bulls (2-2, 0-0 AAC) for a chilly weekend series at J.I Clements Stadium.
Georgia Southern last fell in a close contest to Georgia Tech, in which they had the 3-1 lead early on. Down by two in the ninth, however, the Eagles could not capitalize with the tying run on first as the Yellow Jackets snuck by into a 5-3 victory. Josh Tate had a phenomenal outing at the plate, going 3-4 including a double. The junior has only had seven other three-hit games since he's been in Statesboro. Davis Smith also shone brightly on the mound. The grad student only gave up a hit and an unearned run in three innings of work, while also striking out four. For the Bulls, they also fell last to a midweek ACC opponent in a 6-2 defeat to #9 Florida State. The Bulls held the Seminoles scoreless through the first third of the game, but their offense could not keep up as they left ten runners on base for the contest. They previously won their opening series against Iowa, narrowly having an advantage on the run margin, 18-17.
Georgia Southern and South Florida have only met one time prior, with the lone win going to the Bulls 37 years ago in 1988. The Bulls ended up winning 12-8 as the two squads are set to have their first-ever series this upcoming weekend.
Outfielder Sean Smith has three home runs early on in the season and is one of just 28 players in the country to have this hot of a start. On the mound, the Eagles are top-50 in both ERA and walks allowed per nine innings, having only allowed just three free bases in the team's final two games against Western Carolina.
Georgia Southern Athletic Marketing will host Pirate Night on Friday, Pop Flys and Pop Tarts on Saturday, and fans will have a fun time in their PJs with a Pajama Party on Sunday.
The Eagles' weekend rotation will have one difference this go around, as true freshman Thomas Burke is set to make his collegiate debut on Sunday after both Kade Grundy and Jacob Phillips will start on the prior two days.
AT A GLANCE
FRIDAY (2/21/25)
4:05 p.m. (ET) – J.I. Clements Stadium (Statesboro, Ga.)
RADIO – Varsity Sports Network
WATCH
TICKETS
LIVE STATS
GS – RHP - Kade Grundy
USF - LHP - Corey Braun
SATURDAY (2/22/25)
2:05 p.m. (ET) – J.I. Clements Stadium (Statesboro, Ga.)
RADIO – Varsity Sports Network
WATCH
TICKETS
LIVE STATS
GS – LHP - Jacob Phillips
USF - RHP - James Hill
SUNDAY (2/23/25)
1:05 p.m. (ET) – J.I. Clements Stadium (Statesboro, Ga.)
RADIO – Varsity Sports Network
WATCH
TICKETS
LIVE STATS
GS – LHP - Thomas Burke
USF - Jorge DeCardenas
Georgia Southern last fell in a close contest to Georgia Tech, in which they had the 3-1 lead early on. Down by two in the ninth, however, the Eagles could not capitalize with the tying run on first as the Yellow Jackets snuck by into a 5-3 victory. Josh Tate had a phenomenal outing at the plate, going 3-4 including a double. The junior has only had seven other three-hit games since he's been in Statesboro. Davis Smith also shone brightly on the mound. The grad student only gave up a hit and an unearned run in three innings of work, while also striking out four. For the Bulls, they also fell last to a midweek ACC opponent in a 6-2 defeat to #9 Florida State. The Bulls held the Seminoles scoreless through the first third of the game, but their offense could not keep up as they left ten runners on base for the contest. They previously won their opening series against Iowa, narrowly having an advantage on the run margin, 18-17.
Georgia Southern and South Florida have only met one time prior, with the lone win going to the Bulls 37 years ago in 1988. The Bulls ended up winning 12-8 as the two squads are set to have their first-ever series this upcoming weekend.
Outfielder Sean Smith has three home runs early on in the season and is one of just 28 players in the country to have this hot of a start. On the mound, the Eagles are top-50 in both ERA and walks allowed per nine innings, having only allowed just three free bases in the team's final two games against Western Carolina.
Georgia Southern Athletic Marketing will host Pirate Night on Friday, Pop Flys and Pop Tarts on Saturday, and fans will have a fun time in their PJs with a Pajama Party on Sunday.
The Eagles' weekend rotation will have one difference this go around, as true freshman Thomas Burke is set to make his collegiate debut on Sunday after both Kade Grundy and Jacob Phillips will start on the prior two days.
AT A GLANCE
FRIDAY (2/21/25)
4:05 p.m. (ET) – J.I. Clements Stadium (Statesboro, Ga.)
RADIO – Varsity Sports Network
WATCH
TICKETS
LIVE STATS
GS – RHP - Kade Grundy
USF - LHP - Corey Braun
SATURDAY (2/22/25)
2:05 p.m. (ET) – J.I. Clements Stadium (Statesboro, Ga.)
RADIO – Varsity Sports Network
WATCH
TICKETS
LIVE STATS
GS – LHP - Jacob Phillips
USF - RHP - James Hill
SUNDAY (2/23/25)
1:05 p.m. (ET) – J.I. Clements Stadium (Statesboro, Ga.)
RADIO – Varsity Sports Network
WATCH
TICKETS
LIVE STATS
GS – LHP - Thomas Burke
USF - Jorge DeCardenas
Players Mentioned
LHP
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RHP
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LHP
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RHP
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OF
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