Eagles take series from Dawgs

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Colin Ritsick

Winning the last two games of the weekend, the Georgia Southern University baseball team upset the No. 29 University of Georgia at J.I. Clements Stadium to clinch the series victory.

The Eagles bested the Bulldogs with their first win coming on Saturday by a final score of 3-2, and the second on Sunday, 11-2. Senior first baseman T.D. Davis finished the weekend going 5-10 from the plate with four RBI. GSU sophomore pitcher Sam Howard and freshman pitcher Jason Richman, pulled more than their fair share of slack in their first ever starts for GSU.

GSU drew first blood on opening day and UGA answered immediately scoring five runs in the next inning and one more the following frame. Trailing by a score of 6-3, the Eagles sophomore left fielder Hunter Thomas roped a two RBI single up the middle to pull GSU within a run. This would be the last time GSU would cross the plate.

The Eagles had men on the bases constantly during the game, the team simply failed to convert its opportunities into runs.

After senior starting pitcher Justin Hess allowed five runs in three innings, the GSU bullpen rose to the occasion. Senior pitcher Josh Stevenson came on to throw 4.1 innings of relief, which included getting out of a bases loaded jam as soon as he was brought into the game.

There was too much damage done early and the Eagles fell to UGA on opening night, 6-5.

Saturday’s day game was a dark, damp affair after a long night’s rain that ended in a GSU victory with a 3-2 final score. Howard played the biggest part in this victory, holding the UGA offense to only five hits and one unearned run in his seven innings of work.

Sophomore catcher Chase Griffin got things started off in the bottom of the first inning with a RBI sac fly and was immediately followed by Davis who lined a RBI single to right field. He would go on to finish the game going 2-3 with one RBI.

The bullpen would come on strong for the Eagles again. Senior pitcher Chris Meyers pitched a problem-free eighth inning and was followed by senior closer Kyle Rowe, who allowed a solo HR in the top of the ninth but would otherwise handle the Bulldogs without a hitch.

For the third time in as many days, fans flocked to Clements Stadium to watch the deciding contest between GSU and UGA.

The Eagles did not take any time in getting started, as the team put up four runs in the first inning and three more in the second. Junior third baseman Ben Morgan was nearly perfect from the plate, going 4-5 with three RBI and three runs including a three-run homerun.

Richman, who was playing his first-ever collegiate game, threw 5.1 innings and only gave up one run and three hits. The southpaw struck out six.

The game ended with a final score of 11-2 and the Eagles clinched the series.