Statesboro, Ga. --- The Georgia Southern baseball team (23-17, 9-9 SBC) secured the series win over Arkansas State (18-21, 7-9 SBC) with a 7-4 win on Saturday afternoon (April 19th).

Much to the dismay of the Southern faithful, it would be the Red Wolves to strike first in the opening frame of the contest. Two free passes to start the ball game followed by an error from the Eagles defense would eventually give the Red Wolves an early 2-0 lead. Just like the Red Wolves did one night ago, the Eagles would halve the lead in the bottom of the second with a leadoff homer from Cade Parker. After exiting the lineup last weekend, he responded in a big way with now back-to-back games with a moonshot, as his today went 433 feet. 

However, the very next inning, the Red Wolves would use three hits to plate a run back and for the Eagles, it would be time to make a move to the pen. Although the first batter that Carter Degondea would face out of relief would result in a bases loaded walk, it would be the right move on the day. The junior lefty threw for 5.2 innings of scoreless baseball, only allowing four hits and striking out a trio of Red Wolves.

In a 4-2 contest, the Eagles would make their move in the bottom of the third. With two outs, Sean White would take a walk before Daniel Haab made Arkansas State pay and launched a long ball that cut the deficit to just one. The very next inning, the home run party would continue as both JP Herrholz and Josh Tate would each send one out the ballpark to account for three runs and give the Eagles the 6-4 lead in the fourth. For Tate, he would be the first Eagle this season to eclipse double digit home runs with his now ten.

With the score standing still for the next three full innings, Georgia Southern added on an important insurance run in the bottom of the eighth from a sacrifice-fly from Nico Senese. In the ninth, Davis Smith would enter and close out the game with a backwards K strikeout to slam the door shut and give his Eagles a crucial series win. 

All but one Eagle in the starting lineup would tally a hit on the day, with Haab and Tate each collecting two RBIs. For DeGondea, he now matches the best record on the staff at 3-0. For Smith, he picks up his fourth save od the season for his efforts.

Wih the Eagles now settled in at .500 in Sun Belt play, they look to test themselves in a midweek contest at Florida this upcoming Tuesday (April 22nd). First pitch at Condron Family Ballpark is set for 6 PM.