Georgia Southern Slugs Past Louisiana, 9-1, to Take Series
LAFAYETTE, LA. - Georgia Southern Baseball hit a season-high five home runs on Sunday to take a 9-1 win over Louisiana to take the series win. Four of the bombs were of the conventional variety, while the fifth came on a Jordan Wren inside the park job. Seth Shuman allowed one run off four hits to improve to 5-0 on the season. The Eagles visit Kennesaw State on Wednesday before hosting Arkansas State this weekend.
The series win was Georgia Southern's 12th straight road series win in conference play, dating back to the 2015 season. The Eagles have taken both series wins against the Ragin' Cajuns in Louisiana. Georgia Southern owns the Sun Belt's best overall record at 32-16 and sits third in the East Division with a 15-9 record. Louisiana falls to 28-19 overall and 14-9-1, trailing the Eagles by a half game for the fourth seed in the Sun Belt Tournament.
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Rodney Hennon
"It was a good team effort all the way around. We got the big home run out of the gate from Ryan Cleveland to get us out in front. I thought it was important to go out there and put a zero up after that and Seth Shuman did that. He went on to throw an outstanding game for us. We got some big hits late, we responded well after a tough Friday night. Any time you can go out and get a win on the road, you've got to feel good, but we've got to keep pushing and prepare for the week ahead."
SCORING PLAYS
Top 1st - GS 2 - UL 0 - A throwing error by the UL shortstop allowed leadoff hitter Steven Curry to reach. The Cajuns were punished for the miscue just one batter later when Ryan Cleveland hit his 13th home run of the season. The long ball staked the Eagles to an early 2-0 lead.
Top 2nd - GS 3 - UL 0 - Cal Baker extended the lead in the second inning with a one out solo home run. His second career blast and first since 2015 pushed the lead to 3-1.
Bot 2nd - GS 3 - UL 1 - Brad Antchak got the Cajuns on the board in the second, hitting a solo home run down the line in right that took some paint off the wall as it left the park.
Top 8th - GS 9 - UL 1 - Georgia Southern torched Louisiana's closer Wyatt Marks for four runs in two thirds of an inning and added two more later in the frame after his exit. Evan McDonald hit his first home run of the season off a 1-1 count. After a pair of strikeouts, Tyler Martin squared up a slider over the wall in left. Following a Mason McWhorter double to right, Jordan Wren hit a two-run inside the park home run that plated McWhorter. The unconventional bomb was a sinking liner that got past the diving UL centerfielder for Wren's fifth home run of the year. After Marks' exit, a Logan Baldwin ground rule double and a walk by Baker set the table for C.J. Brazil to drive in two more and give the Eagles' the six run frame.
GAME NOTES
- Freshman Seth Shuman had an outstanding outing, working seven and two thirds and allowing just one run off four hits. The career-long outing saw him go over 100 pitches for the first time in his collegiate career and post his first quality start. He recorded five strikeouts on the day to improve to 5-0 on the season.
- Logan Baldwin went 2-for-3 on Sunday to close the series at the .500 mark in the set.
NEXT UP
Georgia Southern visits Kennesaw State on Wednesday night for a midweek trip to Cobb County. The Eagles defeated the Owls 8-4 on April 11th in Statesboro. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
KILGORE, JONES, GATEWOOD HOMER IN 11-8 VICTORY TO WIN SERIES
SAN MARCOS, TEXAS -- Will Kilgore, Justin Jones and Nick Gatewood homered as Georgia State rallied from a 6-3 deficit to defeat Texas State 11-8 Sunday at Bobcat Ballpark and win the series, two games to one.
Kilgore and Jones drove in three runs each and Darius Sewell delivered a key two-run single for the Panthers (19-27, 8-15), who have won five of their last seven games.
Trailing 6-3 after five innings, Georgia State tied the game with three runs in the sixth and then scored five more in the seventh to take the lead for good.
Romero Greer led off the sixth with a single, and then Luke Leonard and Ryan Blanton drew walks to load the bases with one out. Jones drew a bases-loaded walk, and then Sewell came through with a two-out single up the middle to tie the game at 6-6.
After reliever Tanner Thomson retired the Bobcats (24-25, 10-14) in the bottom of the sixth, Greer walked and Leonard doubled to put runners at second and third with one out. That brought up Kilgore, who ripped a 3-1 pitch inside the bag at third and into the left corner to score both runners and put the Panthers ahead 8-6.
With two outs and Kilgore at second, Jones homered to left field, the second homer of the season for the Panthers' shortstop, to extend the lead to 10-8. One pitch later, Gatewood went back-to-back with a mammoth blast over the right field fence. That was the second homer of the series and third this week for the left-handed hitting catcher, who now has five long balls on the season.
With GSU now leading 11-6, Thomson (3-3) put up another zero in the bottom of the seventh, and Tyler Koch pitched a scoreless eighth.
Texas State managed two runs in the ninth and had the bases loaded with one out when Logan Barnette rolled a game-ending double play as Greer fielded the ground ball, stepped on the bag at third and threw to first to seal the win.
The Bobcats took an early 2-0 lead in the fourth inning, but Georgia State responded with three runs in the fifth. Kilgore led off the frame with his team-leading seventh home run of the season and second in as many days.
Blanton followed by legging out a double, moving to third on Jones' ground ball and then scoring on a wild pitch to tie game. With two outs, Cam Sperry doubled to right center to score Sewell and put the Panthers ahead 3-2.
After Texas State scored four in the bottom of the fifth, Kilgore made a key defensive play at second base when he made a leaping catch on a line drive with bases loaded and two outs in the fifth inning, keeping Georgia State within three runs.
The Panthers host Savannah State Wedneday at 5 p.m. at the GSU Baseball Complex.
Troy Takes Series; Skinner Sets Saves Record
TROY, Alabama – Marc Skinner recorded his 19th career save to become Troy's all-time saves leader and to close out an 11-3 victory over Appalachian State Sunday afternoon at Riddle-Pace Field.
Skinner earned the save after only allowing a hit in 2.2 innings of shutout work on the mound. It was his 11th save of the season, which is one shy of tying Troy's single-season record set by Josh Storm in 2008.
Troy (26-21, 12-12 Sun Belt) trailed 2-1 into the fifth inning before striking for 10 runs in the final four frames to take the series.
Brandon Lockridge ended the game a double shy of hitting for the cycle after a 4-for-4 performance with a home run, a triple, three RBIs and three runs scored for the Trojans – his first career four-hit game.
Troy's Mason Rogers turned in a 3-for-4 day with two doubles and two RBIs, while Justin Friend and Drew Frederic both finished 2-for-4 in the series finale.
Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week Cory Gill (1-1) won his first game of the season after only allowing a run on three hits in 2.1 innings of work.
Matt Brill went 2-for-4 with an RBI to lead Appalachian State (19-29, 8-16 Sun Belt) at the plate. Luke Watts (2-6) suffered loss after giving up five runs – four earned – on six hits in 4.1 innings on the mound.
QUOTABLE
"We took advantage of their bullpen," "We had a lot of good things going for us today. I knew Gill and Skinner would get us five good ones. Brandon Lockridge and Mason Rogers were terrific.
"I was just trying to get the save out of the way," Marc Skinner said about his record-setting save. "The record has been sitting there for a while. It's really an honor because there were a lot of great pitchers that came ahead of me."
"I saw the ball well today," second baseman Brandon Lockridge said. "Mason Rogers had a great day at the plate, as well. It's starting to click offensively; we're having more good days than bad ones."
SOUND "SMARTT" WITH YOUR FRIENDS
• Brandon Lockridge recorded his team-leading 23rd multi-hit game as he went 4-for-4 with three RBIs on the afternoon and finished a double shy of the cycle. The four hits were a new career-high for Lockridge, who has now reached base safely in 45-of-47 games this season.
• Mason Rogers finished the day 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles for his ninth multi-hit game of the season; Rogers recorded multiple hits in all three games of the weekend series with Appalachian State. He finished the weekend 7-for-12 with three doubles and three RBIs in the weekend series.
• Troy reached double-digits in the hit column for the second time on the weekend and the 16th time this season as the Trojans finished the day with 13 hits against three Mountaineer pitchers.
• Steven Whitaker stole his 18th bases of the season, which doubles Trevor Davis' team-leading nine from last season.
• Marc Skinner recorded his 19th career save to become Troy's all-time saves leader in school history passing Josh Storm. The save was his 11th of the season which is just one shy of tying Storm for the Troy single-season record.
WHAT'S UP NEXT?
Troy's home stand will continue with a mid-week matchup against Alabama State Wednesday night at Riddle-Pace Field.
Coastal Carolina Sweeps ULM, Win 8-1 Sunday
MONROE, La. - Four Chanticleers had two hits and Zack Hopeck worked 5.1 solid innings to lead Coastal Carolina to an 8-1 win over ULM Sunday at Warhawk Field.
With the win, Coastal (30-16-1, 16-7-1 Sun Belt) sweeps its third league series of the season while ULM falls to 12-37, 6-18.
Billy Cooke, Wood Myers, Kieton Rivers and Josh Crump each had two hits for the Chants while Jordan Gore, Kevin Woodall Jr., Myers, Rivers and Crump each had one RBI. Hopeck (3-2), scattered five hits and one walk over 5.1 scoreless innings with three strikeouts to earn the win.
Coastal Carolina grabbed an early lead, 1-0, as Cooke was hit by a pitch to start the game, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Myers.
Cooke made it 2-for-2, scoring CCU's second run for a 2-0 lead in the third. The junior started the frame with a double, moved to third on an error and scored on an RBI ground out by Woodall.
The Chants doubled up their lead, 4-0, with two run in the top of the sixth. Rivers hit a leadoff single and moved to second on a Seth Lancaster walk. Crump followed with an RBI single to score Rivers. On the play, Crump tried to extend the single into a double, but was caught in a run down between first and second, allowing Lancaster to score from third.
Coastal added two more runs in the seventh to grab a 6-0 advantage. With two outs, Woodall walked and Myers hit a sharp single to left-center field. Rivers followed suit with a single to left, driving in Woodall. Myers was sent home on the play and scored as the ULM dropped the ball on the play at the plate.
For the third straight inning, Coastal put two runs on the board to extend their lead to 8-0 in the eighth. Lancaster stated the frame by reaching on an error. Crump walked and Cooke reached on an infield single to load the bases. Lancaster came home on a wild pitch and Crump scored on a sacrifice fly by Jordan Gore.
The Warhawks avoided the shutout as Spencer Hemphill hit a two-out, solo home run in the bottom of the eighth to provide the 8-1 final score.
Coastal Carolina will return to action with a pair of home midweek games versus regional rivals. The first is a makeup for an earlier rain out as the Chanticleers will host UNC Wilmington on Tuesday at 6 pm. Coastal will turn around to host College of Charleston on Wednesday at 6 pm.
JAGS CLINCH LITTLE ROCK SERIES BEHIND CARR
MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama baseball team earned a 5-3 series-clinching win over Little Rock Sunday at Stanky Field.
Jaguar right-hander Tyler Carr (4-1) allowed three runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and one walk in 5 2/3 innings in the win. USA right-hander Matt Peacock tossed three scoreless innings, and allowed just two hits with one strikeout and one walk to record his eighth save of the season. Trojan left-hander Chandler Fidel (2-7) allowed four runs on six hits with three strikeouts and five walks in four innings in the loss.
"Tyler has been doing fine, but I challenged him to be better this week," USA head coach Mark Calvi said. "I thought he let his guard down at times in some starts, and he and I talked about it. I didn't see that today. I thought Tyler was going at it against a very good offensive team (Little Rock) that is swinging the bats well this weekend. Tyler grabbed another gear and went to another level that he hasn't been at since we first started him. It's about response, and Tyler gave me the response that I was looking for through his actions. When you challenge somebody when you know they have another gear, and then they actually do it is where you gain more respect for the player. I had respect for Tyler; he has worked hard and is a competitor.
"I have more respect for him after stepping it up another notch with this start. I was proud of his effort. Tyler made some pitches and did a really nice job. We played very good defense behind him. He had some innings in there where he could have bent, but he competed in the strike zone and made good pitches."
Little Rock (17-30, 8-16 SBC) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on an RBI groundout to shortstop off the bat of Dalton Thomas that scored Cale Ridling who led off the game with a single.
South Alabama (30-18, 17-7 SBC) answered with three runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a two-run lead. Brendan Donovan singled to right field with one out, and moved to second on a walk by Travis Swaggerty. Wells Davis drew a two-out walk to load the bases for Matt Bolger, who delivered a two-run single back up the middle to plate Donovan and Swaggerty for a 2-1 Jaguar lead. Dylan Hardy followed with an RBI single to left-center field to score Davis for a 3-1 advantage.
The Jags threatened in the bottom of the second, but did not push across a run. Drew LaBounty doubled to left field with one out in the inning before Donovan reached on a hit by pitch. Eddie Paparella drew a two-out walk to load the bases for Davis, but Trojan left-hander Chandler Fidel induced an inning-ending popup into foul territory behind third base to escape the jam.
Little Rock then responded with a run in the top of the third on a two-out RBI single to right field by Riley Pittman that scored Hunter Owens, who led reached on a one-out single then stole second, to cut the Jaguar lead to 3-2.
South Alabama added a run in the bottom of the fourth for a two-run advantage. LaBounty drew a one-out walk and scored one batter later on a single to right field by Donovan, following an error by Trojan right fielder Dalton Thomas, to double the USA lead at 4-2.
The Trojans cut their deficit to one run on consecutive two-out doubles in the top of the sixth. Cameron Knight doubled down the right field line, and scored one batter later on a double to left field by Zach Baker to cut the Jaguar lead to 4-3.
USA added a run in the bottom of the sixth when Paparella doubled to left field then scored the game's final run on an error by Thomas on a dropped fly ball off the bat of Davis.
Seven Jaguar starters hit safely in the game, led by Bolger who went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Hardy added one hit and one RBI, while LaBounty fininshed 2-for-4 with a double and one run scored. Baker went 3-for-4 with a double and one RBI to lead the Trojans offensively.
USA will return to action Tue., May 9, when it travels to Baton Rouge, La., for a 6:30 p.m. contest with LSU.
No. 23 Mavs Sweep A-State Behind Hernandez Gem
JONESBORO, Ark. -- Jakob Hernandez fired seven-shutout, three-hit innings and Brad Cox collected two hits, leading No. 23 UTA to a series sweep over Arkansas State with a 2-0 win, stretching the winning streak in conference games to a school-record 10 games on a perfect Sunday afternoon at Tomlinson Stadium.
UTA (29-18, 19-5 Sun Belt) equaled the school record with 10 straight league games, done in 1992, 2006 and 2014. The Mavs also won their 16th road game – a program best – and improved to 11-1 in road Sun Belt games. The Mavs have now won 15 of their last 17 games and are 27-11 since March. UTA sports a two-game lead in the overall race for the regular-season conference title.
The UTA win followed a different formula then the first two games in the series as the Mavs had to claw out single runs in the sixth and eighth innings for a two-run lead. UTA opened the series with an 11-7 win on Friday and a 15-3 win on Saturday.
ON THE MOUND
A native of Parker, Colo., Hernandez (6-0) worked seven-shutout, three-hit innings, surrendering just a walk and striking out nine. He retired the first eight hitters of the game and in only the third inning did he pitch with a runner in scoring position. Hernandez exited in favor of Austin Gardner to open the eighth inning after working his eighth quality start of the year.
Gardner worked a perfect eighth inning before giving way to junior Daniel James to open the ninth. James fired a shutout ninth to earn his 13th save of the year - tops in the league and second-most in UTA single-season history.
A-State starter Peyton Culbertson (4-5) worked 5.1 innings, allowing four hits and no runs, walking two and striking out three on 88 pitches. With two on and one out in the top of the sixth inning, Brandon Stuckenschneider took over in a lefty-lefty matchup, retiring the hitter he faced before giving way to Tanner Kirby with two down in the frame. Kirby got four outs before giving way to Tyler Mitzel to open the eighth, with closer Tyler Zuber also working in relief in the frame.
LEADING THE MAVS
UTA was limited to eight hits in the game but got two-hit games from Cox and freshman Zac Cook. UTA also got hits from Will Olson, Quintin Rohrbaugh, Noah Vaughan and RJ Williams. Rohrbaugh extended his on-base streak to 40 games.
HOW THEY SCORED
UTA opened the scoring in the top of the sixth inning, getting an infield knock from Cox with one out, with Salinas drawing a walk. After the second out, Rohrbaugh singled through the left side, scoring Cox for a 1-0 UTA lead.
Cox started a rally in the eighth inning, spanking a double down the line in leftfield. Olson then singled up the middle to score Cox and give the Mavs a narrow two-run lead.
NEXT
UTA will return to action with a three-game series vs. the defending national champions, Coastal Carolina, starting on Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Clay Gould Ballpark.