Eagles and Spartans Split Doubleheader, 4-3 & 8-2

Saturday, February 28

2 PM

Georgia Southern University

1-8

USC Upstate

6-5

USC Upstate

Georgia Southern

2/28/2026 9:56:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

STATESBORO --- The Georgia Southern baseball team (1-9, 0-0 SBC) split the Saturday twinbill (February 28th) with USC Upstate (7-5, 0-0 Big South) by scores of 4-3 and 8-2, respectively.

GAME ONE

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Despite hitting the first batter and allowing a single through the infield, Carter DeGondea struck out the side in the first to strand two Spartans on early.
The two teams would trade RBI-singles in the second inning to tie the score at one. Gage Griggs would hit one in for the Spartans while James McCoy slapped a hit through the infield to tie the game.
The Eagles would start their home third with back-to-back bunt singles from Mason Gazaway and Max Prozny, but would strand two after a play at the plate would prevent a run.
After allowing a one-out walk, DeGondea would draw a double play by striking out his batter, while White would gun down a Spartan trying to steal for a double play to close the inning.
The Spartans took the lead off a Georgia Southern throwing error in the sixth.
The Eagles exploded for three runs of their own off RBI-singles from Jonathan Jaime and Mason Gazaway to take a 4-2 lead going into the seventh.
An RBI-double from Maloy Heaghney cut their deficit to just one in the seventh, but a strikeout from Brady Pendley was crucial to stop any more damage to close the frame.
In the Spartans' eighth, a walk and double with one away would put two in scoring position. However, a strikeout from Brady Pendley and a groundout would keep the frame clean for the Eagles.
Pendley slammed the door shut in the ninth, sitting down the final two Spartans via the K to give the Eagles their first win of 2026.

NOTES:

The Eagles only used two pitchers, the least of any game this season.
DeGondea would allow just one earned run in his five innings, giving up just three hits and striking out six Spartans.
Pendley would provide a great compliment, mirroring his predecessor's statline in his four innings, but striking out five on his outing.
Gazaway would have his first multi-hit game as an Eagle with his 2-3 showing.

GAME TWO:

HOW IT HAPPENED:

After a quiet first, the Spartans used an RBI-double in the gap to plate a run across, taking the early lead once again.
In the third, a walk and Spartan single would put two on for Johnny Sweeney to increase their lead to four with a three-run homer.
After the Eagles stranded a pair of runners the following inning, USC Upstate scored another run off two Eagle errors but would have their damage stopped via a double play to Senese at short.
The Eagles picked up their first three hits of the night in succession, but would strand three after the next two batters were retired.
Both teams would stay quiet the next three innings, with Georgia Southern stranding the bases loaded for the second time in the seventh.
Upstate would put an exclamation put on in the eighth, smacking three hits and scoring just as many for their largest lead of the series.
The Eagles would fight back in the ninth, using three hits and five batters total reaching aboard, to avoid the shutout and get back two runs. Unfortunately, the rally would run short.

NOTES:

Both Dayson Griffis and Daniel Hartley would throw an inning plus of scoreless ball and each would strike out two Spartans on the night.
Frank Wells collected his first career hit on the night with his single in the fourth to lead the bases.
Along with his two hits, McCoy reached aboard in four of his five at-bats on the night, including four straight to close out the game.

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