Statesboro, Ga. --- The Georgia Southern Eagles (12-9, 1-3 SBC) shut down the Appalachian State Mountaineers (11-10, 3-1 SBC) , 9-0, on a brisk Friday night in Statesboro (March 21st).

The first third of the contest was a verified pitchers duel between Southern's Kade Grundy and App State's Caleb Cross. Through the first three innings for Cross, he would not give up a run and only allow two hits, while striking out one. For Grundy, he would have one of his best nights of his career. The senior would throw 6.1 innings of scoreless ball, only allowing two hits and striking out six Mountaineers.

The Eagles would not take the board until the fourth, as a runner in scoring position with one away would set up for a towering triple for Daniel Haab that would hit off the monster in would field to strike the board first. Then, a sac-fly from DH Cam Foster would double the lead early. The Eagles would add on another one two innings later as a Sean Smith triple down the line would set up for a Sean White sac-fly to make it 3-0. Earlier in the second inning, however, Haab would slam a triple for his first hit of the game, and would eventually become the first Eagles to hit two triples in a game since 2003.

However, it was the seventh inning that blew it open for the Eagles. A leadoff walk from Cade Parker would eventually lead to a four-hit, one error, and six-run half inning for the home squad. It was complete with hits from those in the lineup who were needing them in the likes of JP Herrholz, Luke Odden, White, and Haab. A bases-loaded walk from Sean Smith also got the Eagles momentum with a good team at-bat. The inning, which brought ten Eagles up to the plate, would expand the gap all the way to 9-0.

Even after Grundy stepped in the dugout, his relievers were just as potent. Although Garrett Mackowiak would put the Eagles in a sticky spot, Brady Pendley would force a double play grounder to retire the side and send Staesboro into a frenzy. The duo of Pendley and Will Robbins would combine for 2.2 innings, only giving up two hits and striking out three, while keeping the score clean. Haab would go an astounding 4-4 on the night, including his two triples, and would rack up three RBIs. 

The Eagles achieved their first Sun Belt win of the season in 2025, and the blanking of the Mountaineers is their second shutout of the year, the last of which coming back on the second game of the season in a 5-0 win against Western Carolina.

The series continues tomorrow with first pitch set for 2:00 PM in Statesboro as kids are set to takeover the ball park on Saturday, as Family Weekend continues all series long.