Cleveland's Three-Run Bomb Sends the Camels Packing
STATESBORO, GA. - Georgia Southern's senior first baseman Ryan Cleveland bashed his fifth home run of the season in the eighth inning to put the Eagles ahead for good in a 9-8 win over Campbell on Wednesday night. The Eagles improve to 7-6 on the year with the win and sweep the midweek pair of games over the Camels. This weekend the Eagles travel to the Piedmont Triad of North Carolina for a series at Elon.

QUOTABLES
Head Coach Rodney Hennon
"I think we saw some of Campbell's better arms tonight and really we didn't have much to show for it, only five hits, but I thought we were taking some pretty good at bats. The walks were big tonight, but we took our walks tonight. There have been times where we've gotten ourselves out and not taken the walks. The fact that our guys are willing to do that has been big for us so far this year. It was big for us tonight, it gave us some opportunities to step up and get some big hits."

CRUICIAL MOMENTS
Bot 4th - CAMPBELL 0 - GS 2 - Mason McWhorter got Georgia Southern's first hit of the game in the fourth with a double which drove Mitchell Golden in for the Eagles' first run of the contest. After a walk and a hit batter loaded the bases, Logan Baldwin beat out a one out double play bid to extend the frame and plate McWhorter from third.
Top 5th - CAMPBELL 6 - GS 2 - Campbell tagged the Eagles for six runs off five hits in the fifth inning to take a 6-2 lead. The Camels batted around with Kyle Mehl tagging a pair of hits.
Top 6th - CAMPBELL 7 - GS 2 - The visitors added another run in the sixth inning as the Camels stole their way to a run after Drew Butler's leadoff hit. He stole second and third, only to score on a sacrifice fly.
Bot 6th - CAMPBELL 7 - GS 4 - The Eagle comeback started in the sixth inning with a pair of runs. Jordan Wren's two-out double sparked the inning. Wren reached third on a wild pitch and came home when the Campbell pitcher missed first base when covering the bag. That came back to haunt the Camels when Jacob Green tagged a double three pitches later for his first collegiate hit and his first RBI.
Bot 7th - CAMPBELL 7 - GS 6 - After a leadoff walk was issued to Steven Curry, the Eagles took advantage of two errors by the Camels to plate a pair of runs. Tyler Martin's sacrifice fly drove in the inning's second run as the Eagles got within one, leaving two on base in the frame.
Top 8th - CAMPBELL 8 - GS 6 - Campbell got a run back in the eighth when Butler added his third single of the game and stole two more bases to up his total to four for the day. A sacrifice fly plated the run and pushed the lead to two.
Bot 8th - CAMPBELL 8 - GS 9 - A single by Greene, followed by a walk to Baldwin set the table for a big Georgia Southern eighth inning. A strikeout and a ground out reduced the Eagles to their final out of the frame, but brought Ryan Cleveland to the plate. The senior mashed his fifth home run of the season to the gap in right and found the pond beyond the wall. The big fly put the Eagles ahead for good and marked the fourth-straight game in which Cleveland has hit a home run.

GAME NOTES
- Landon Hughes earned his third win of the season, working 2.0 innings of relief. He fanned four of the six outs he retired and retired each batter in order.
- Freshman Jacob Greene made his first start for the Eagles just 24 hours after making his collegiate debut as a defensive replacement on Tuesday night. He went 2-for-3 on the night with an RBI and a walk to kick start his career with the Eagles.

Petty, Vassar Help Mavs Snap ACU's Win Streak
ABILENE, Texas -- Reid Petty worked three one-run innings and Brad Vassar worked the following 3.1 shutout frames, leading UTA to a 5-4 win at Abilene Christian, snapping ACU's seven-game winning streak, on Wednesday night at Crutcher Scott Field.

UTA (6-7) stretched its winning streak to four games and snapped a seven-game streak for the Wildcats, which included a sweep last weekend over Creighton. The Mavs improved to 5-1 on the road in 2017 and have now played nine games that have been decided by two runs or less over their first 13 games.

The two teams traded single runs in the first inning – including a first-pitch homer from ACU to leadoff – before UTA took the lead on a two-run double from Omar Salinas in the second. After UTA got a run in the eighth, on a Salinas two-out single, ACU rallied in its half of the inning to plate two runs to get within a run. UTA got the run back in the ninth inning for the final margin.

ON THE MOUND
UTA starter Reid Petty worked over three innings, allowing three hits and one run, issuing one walk and equaling his career high with five strikeouts. After allowing a leadoff homer on the first pitch of the first inning, Petty settled in to get the Mavs in position for the win. Petty retired 9 of the 12 hitters he faced after the homer.

With a runner on first to leadoff the fourth, UTA turned to lefty Brad Vassar (1-1) to escape the early jam. Vassar worked 3.1 dominating innings, allowing only a single off his glove on a comebacker, finishing with four strikeouts. Vassar retired eight straight Wildcats after coming on in relief.

UTA turned to senior righty Austin Gardner in relief of Vassar in the seventh inning with one out. Gardner got out of the jam with a pair of quick outs and worked 1.2 innings, allowing two runs on two hits and one walk, striking out one. Adam Meyer came on in the eighth in relief of Gardner to strand the tying and go-ahead runners on base. Meyer opened the ninth inning before ACU got a leadoff homer and single, with the Mavs turning to Dylan Schneider. Schneider got three outs to strand the runners on and earn his first save of the year and the third of his career.

ACU (7-5) starter David Ruot (0-2) worked 1.2 innings, allowing three runs on five hits and a walk, striking out one. The Wildcats also used Cyle Watkins, Bryce Hill, Keaton Brewer, Zac Kornely, Ryan Kotulek, Caleb Dougherty and Brandon Lambright in relief.

LEADING THE MAVS
The Mavs offense got multi-hit games from Brady Cox, Aaron Funk, Will Olson and Salinas, with UTA also getting key knocks from Phil Berthiaume, Noah Vaughan, Quintin Rohrbaugh and Easton Johnson. Salinas finished 3-for-4 with a walk, two doubles and three RBI.

HOW THEY SCORED
The Mavs scored in the top of the first inning as Salinas drew a one-out walk and Cox dropped a single into no-mans land down the rightfield line. Olson then spanked a single through the hole to load the bases for Rohrbaugh. Rohrbaugh chopped a grounder up the middle and was safe at first to allow Salinas to score the first run of the game.

The Wildcats answered on the first pitch of the bottom of the first inning as Dalon Farkas pulled his first homer of the year over the leftfield fence.

In the top of the second inning, UTA mounted a two-out rally, getting a knock up the middle from Funk and a single to left fro Berthiaume. Salinas then pounded a two-run double into the left-centerfield gap, scoring a pair.

UTA got back on the board in the eighth inning as Johnson singled with one out and scored on a two-out knock from Salinas.

ACU got a one-out double from Farkas in the eighth inning, a walk from Derek Scott and an RBI single from Luis Trevino. After the second out, UTA turned to Meyer, who allowed a run-scoring single but stranded the tying and go-ahead runs on base.

Olson led off the ninth inning with a single to left, scoring from first on Rohrbaugh's RBI double into the right-centerfield gap.

Myles Paschall hit the seventh pitch of his leadoff at bat in the ninth over the leftfield fence for his first career homer.

NEXT
The Mavs return to action with a weekend series with Milwaukee, with the opener set for Friday at 6:30 p.m. CT at Clay Gould Ballpark.

JONES' DOUBLE IN 11TH DELIVERS 2-0 WIN AT NO. 14 OLE MISS
OXFORD, MISS. -- Four Georgia State pitchers tossed 11 scoreless innings and Justin Jones' two-run double in the 11th inning produced the game's
only runs as the Panthers knocked off No. 14 Ole Miss 2-0 (11) Wednesday at Swayze Field.

The Rebels (8-5), ranked as high as No. 14 by Perfect Game, are the highest-ranked team Georgia State (7-5) has beaten since a 5-4 win over No. 9 Georgia Tech in 2012.

In a scoreless game, Mike Huggins led off the top of the 11th inning with a single, and Ryan Blanton doubled over the rightfielder's head to put runners at second and third with no outs. Then Jones, the Panthers' junior shortstop, ripped the 1-2 pitch inside the bag at third base and into left field to score both runners.

"Justin Jones played a great series and a great game today," head coach Greg Frady said. "He means so much to our team, offensively and defensively; he really is our rock."

Logan Barnette (2-0) allowed just one hit in five scoreless innings to earn the victory. After GSU took the lead, Rhett Harper came on and struck out the first two Rebels before ending the game with a groundout to pick up his second save.

GSU starter Devin Vainer allowed two hits and two walks with four strikeouts before giving way to Liam Henry with one out and one on in the fourth. Henry came in with a 2-0 count but struck out Kyle Watson and proceeded to retire all eight batter he faced in 2.2 innings.

Barnette took over to start the seventh inning. He retired the Rebels in order in the seventh and ninth innings but had to work out of a first- and-third with two outs situation in the eighth, when he induced an inning-inning groundout, and a bases-loaded jam in the 10th, when he struck out Thomas Dillard looking for the third out.

"It was a really big step forward for our pitching staff at a time when we really needed it," Frady said. "I want to compliment [pitching coach] Chris Bootcheck, who called a great game, and our catchers did a great job. Our pitchers did a good job of throwing the ball in the strike zone and pitching to contact and we played good defense behind them.

"I can't say enough good things about what Devin Vainer is doing for us," Frady continued. "He leads our team in appearances, and today we needed him to make a spot start and he did a great job. Liam Henry came in behind him and also did a great job. Logan Barnette pitched longer than he has in two years, and Rhett Harper pitched on back-to-back days."

Ole Miss starter Will Ethridge was perfect for 5.2 innings until Huggins singled with two outs in the sixth. Ethridge pitched 7.2 scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts and only two hits allowed. Dallas Woolfolk (1-1) took the loss.

The two teams split their two-game midweek series, with Ole Miss winning 1-0 on Tuesday. GSU pitchers allowed just six hits and one run, a solo homer, in 19 innings against the Rebels.

Today's win is Georgia State's second victory at Ole Miss in the last four years and fourth against an SEC foe in the last five seasons. The Panthers downed the Rebels 6-4 in 2014 and earned back-to-back wins over Georgia in 2013 and 2014.

Any time you can go on the road to an SEC venue and beat a really good, Top 25 team, it helps your confidence.

The Panthers play three games at the LakePoint Sporting Complex in Emerson, Ga., this weekend, beginning with Bowling Green Friday at 4 p.m.

Smith, Mountaineers Get First Home Win, Down UNCA
BOONE, N.C. – Appalachian State University baseball used strong hitting from its whole lineup to win its home opener against UNC Asheville, 4-3, on Wednesday night at Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium. The win gave Kermit Smith his first home win as head coach (1-0).

The Mountaineers (6-6) went up against eight pitchers on the evening as the Bulldogs (5-6) used the midweek matchup as a staff pitching day. Despite multiple different looks on the mound, Appalachian had six batters get a hit and two get multiple hits.

The Black and Gold got on the board first in the fourth inning of their first home game of the season as Matt Vernon started things off with a leadoff single through the left side. UNC Asheville then failed to turn the double play as Chandler Seagle beat out the throw. Facing a 3-1 hitter’s count, Tyler Stroup got his second home run of the season, jacking one to left center to get his two RBI on the day.

The Bulldogs then countered in the sixth when a solo bomb to center field was followed up by back-to-back shots barreling down the right and left field line fair to bring home the tying run. Asheville then took the lead in the seventh as the Mountaineers couldn’t turn the double play to end the inning, allowing one to cross the plate.

Unfettered by the tight game, App State responded with a double to deep right field by Avery Jackson and a Calev Grubbs single to right. Grubbs was then almost caught stealing second, but reached safely after the Bulldog pitcher at the time overthrew his intended target, allowing pinch runner Robert Langdon to go home. The Mountaineers then capitalized on a wild pitch that allowed Grubbs to score.

Appalachian would allow just one hit over the next two innings to close out the game. Left-handed sophomore Bobby Hampton got the start for the midweek matchup, but it was Reed Howell who received the win, entering the game in the sixth inning with the game tied at two apiece.

Closer Matt Brill received the save – his second of the year. He started the ninth inning with a one-run lead and faced just four batters, walking one, striking out the other and forcing a groundout to second base to end the game.

On the day, Drake Zupcic and Jackson helped lead the offensive charge, going 2-3 and 2-2, respectively. Brian Bauk also tied Jackson with a double on the day. App State made aggressive plays away from the plate on the base-paths, forcing the defense to either make a play or give up bases.

The Mountaineers will now embark on their longest road trip of the season thus far when they head to take on Missouri in a weekend series. First pitch is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., 3 p.m. and 2 p.m. (all eastern times) on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

All three games of the series will be broadcast live on the SEC Network + and can be streamed online on WatchESPN and the WatchESPN app.