Georgia Southern University
4-11
Tennessee Tech
7-8
McCoy Mashes Two Homers en Route to 11-6 Victory to Take Series
3/8/2026 4:55:00 PM | Baseball
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Golden Eagles once again were the ones to strike first right out of the gate as a leadoff double from Landon Smelser eventually got him home from third on a wild pitch, taking the early 1-0 lead.
- After a few quiet innings from Southern, they would explode for five runs off of a three-run homer from James McCoy followed two batters later by a two-run shot from Sean White, making it 5-1.
- Just before the midway point in the fifth, Tennessee Tech managed to load the bases with still none away in the frame. A fielder's choice RBI would get a run across, but a lineout and flyout would retire the side with only the lone run given up.
- In the Eagles' fifth, a leadoff single from Nico Senese and a sac-bunt put the third baseman on second with one away. Unfortunately, a sharp lineout right back to the mound doubled up the Eagles to cut down the inning earlier than expected.
- The following frame, the Eagles managed to get Myers and McCoy in scoring position, but Tennessee Tech navigated their way through the heart of the order without allowing either of the two to score.
- The Eagle bats woke up from their hibernation in the seventh as three straight singles from Prozny, Senese and Edwards would score one and leave two in scoring position. With two away, McCoy drilled the first pitch he saw once again to deep center field for his second long ball of the day and his third in the series.
- A leadoff single in the eighth from White resulted in free bases for three of the next five batters, including an RBI-walk for Grant Jordan to make it 10-4. A wild pitch during Gazaway's AB would make it 11-4 going into the ninth.
- The Golden eagle wouldn't go away without fighting, though. Two walks led to a wild pitch and a single from Ty Denton to make it a five-run deficit, but two straight outfield fly balls would end the game and give Southern the series victory.
NOTES:
- McCoy's homer to start the third would travel 485 feet, the longest homer ever hit at J.I. Clements Stadium.
- The senior also had another four hit, five-RBI day in back-to-back contests. It would be the first time an Eagle has racked them up in consecutive contests since Jesse Sherrill and Noah Ledford did in May of 2022.
- Eight of the nine Eagle went for hits today, including four multi-hit performances (McCoy, White, Senese, Edwards).
- Will Holder picked up his first collegiate win this afternoon after his five full innings of work. He gave up just two runs on five hits, including three scoreless frames and tied his career high with four Ks.
- Both Craig Kalkbrenner and Alex Mason threw a full inning each, combining to give up just one hit and keeping the Golden Eagles off the scoreboard.
UP NEXT:
- The series win sets up the Eagles toughest non-conference foe remaining this season as they face #14 Clemson on Tuesday (March 10th). First pitch in North Augusta at SRP Park is set for 6:30 PM.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Holder, Will (1-2)
L: Mattox, Drew (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Lee, Owen 1 ; Smelser, Landon 1
RBI: Fuller, Cade 1 ; Crowson, Connor 1 ; Marchetti, AJ 1 ; Jimenez, Jorsixt 1 ; Denton, Ty 1
SF: Crowson, Connor 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bragga, Luke 1 ; Lee, Owen 2 ; Jimenez, Jorsixt 1 ; Denton, Ty 1 ; Smelser, Landon 1
SB: Lee, Owen 1
HBP: Fuller, Cade 1
Batting:
2B: Myers, Jack 1 ; McCoy, James 1
HR: McCoy, James 2 ; White, Sean 1
RBI: Jordan, Grant 2 ; McCoy, James 5 ; Edwards, Bennett 1 ; White, Sean 2
SH: Gazaway, Mason 1 ; Edwards, Bennett 1
SF: Jordan, Grant 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Myers, Jack 1 ; Senese, Nico 1 ; Jordan, Grant 1 ; Trammell, Bryson 1 ; McCoy, James 2 ; Edwards, Bennett 1 ; Thompson, Kaden 1 ; Prozny, Max 1 ; White, Sean 2
SB: McCoy, James 1 ; Edwards, Bennett 1 ; White, Sean 1
HBP: Myers, Jack 1 ; Jordan, Grant 1 ; Edwards, Bennett 1
