Eagles Take The Series at Texas State with 10-7 Win
SAN MARCOS, TEXAS - Georgia Southern's bats were alive on Sunday, ringing out for 15 hits on Sunday to take a 10-7 victory over Texas State to close out the weekend series. Mitchell Golden, Jason Swan and Christian Avant each had three hit days as the Eagles posted a season-high total in the hits column. Cole Whitney earned the win, his fourth of the year, out of the bullpen.

The Eagles break for final exams this week and return to the diamond on Friday night, opening a three game series with Troy. First pitch against the Trojans is set for 6:30 p.m. on Jack Stallings Field at J.I. Clements Stadium.

SCORING PLAYS
Bottom 2nd - After Braxton Johns worked a clean first frame, the Bobcats got to the sophomore in the second, stringing together two hits before Dylan Scheible hit a three-run home run to put the home side up 3-0.
Top 3rd - The Eagles answered back in the third, plating three runs to even the contest at 3-3. Austin Thompson drove in two with a gapped single to right. A bases loaded single up the middle by Chandler Corley plated the third run.
Top 4th - A leadoff single by Christian Avant was converted to a run with a sacrifice bunt and a Jason Swan RBI single to left to give the Eagles their first lead of the day.
Top 5th - A two out throwing error in the fifth opened the door for an unearned run. Mitchell Golden singled up the middle to plate Corley, who reached second on the two base error, and make the lead 5-3.
Top 6th - The Eagles batted around in the sixth, hanging a crooked number with a five-spot to blow the game open at 10-3. Mason McWhorter drove in two when he split the gap in left. Corley, Golden and Avant followed suit by lashing RBI singles of their own.
Bottom 7th - Bobcats made the final few innings interesting with four runs off four hits in the seventh inning, cutting the lead to 10-7.

NOTES
- Cole Whitney worked four and two thirds innings out of the bullpen to earn his fourth win of the season. He allowed two runs off two hits with two strikeouts.
- Jason Swan went 3-for-6 with an RBI and a ground rule double on his day in the leadoff slot.
- Mitchell Golden recorded three hits for his second-straight multi-hit game. He was 3-for-5 with a double and a RBI.
- Christian Avant got three hits in five trips to the plate, driving in a run and scoring a run.
- The win takes the Eagles above the .500 mark for the first time since April 10th. The Eagles were 16-15 at that point after taking both games over Little Rock.

PROCTOR LEADS JAGS OVER ASU IN SERIES FINALE
MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama left-hander Jared Proctor turned in a quality start to lead the Jaguars to a 9-6 win over Arkansas State in Sunday's series finale at Stanky Field.

Proctor (3-0) tossed a career-high six innings, and allowed one unearned run on three hits while striking out a career-high five batters against two walks.

South Alabama (25-17, 13-7 SBC) will return to action next weekend when it travels to Little Rock, Ark., for a three-game SBC series with Little Rock, beginning with game one Fri., May 4, at 6 p.m.

GAME FACTS
- Drew Tipton led off the game with a walk, moved to second with one out after a passed ball charged to Jaguar catcher Carter Perkins then stole third before Kyle MacDonald delivered a two-out RBI single to center field for a 1-0 ASU lead.
- USA answered in the bottom of the first inning when Brendan Donovan lifted a 2-0 pitch from ASU right-hander Carter Holt over the right field wall for a solo home run, his fourth of the season, to tie the game at 1-1.
- Donovan led off the bottom of the fourth with a single to center field, and moved to second with no outs on a wild pitch by ASU left-hander Payton Lannon. Michael Sandle delivered a two-out, two-run home run to right field, his third of the season, later in the inning on a 2-0 pitch from Lannon for a 3-1 Jaguar lead.
- South Alabama added to its lead in the bottom of the fifth on a two-out RBI single through the right side of the infield by Perkins that scored Swaggerty, who reached on a one-out single earlier in the inning, for a 4-1 advantage. Wells Davis followed with a walk to load the bases for Sandle, who delivered a three-run triple off the left field wall for a 7-1 Jaguar lead.
- USA extended its lead to 8-1 in the bottom of the sixth on a two-out RBI single to center field by Donovan that scored Swaggerty, who singled with two outs earlier in the inning.
- ASU (15-25, 6-15 SBC) cut the Jaguar lead to 8-3 in the top of the eighth inning on a two-out home run to right-center field by MacDonald, and cut its deficit in half on an RBI double off the right field wall by Winston Welch. Cullen Ray followed with an RBI single through the left side of the infield to cut the USA lead to 8-5. A two-out RBI single to center field by Tipton later in the inning cut the Jag lead to 8-6.
- The Jags answered in the bottom of the eighth when Swaggerty lifted a 1-2 pitch from ASU right-hander Korey Wasson over the right field wall for a solo home run, his 11th of the season, and the final run of the game.

NOTES
- Donovan extended his on-base streak to 12 games, and extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning.
- Swaggerty extended his on-base streak to 24 games with a single in the bottom of the fifth inning.
- Sandle went 2-for-5 with a triple, one home run, a career-high five RBIs and one run scored to lead the Jaguars at the plate. Donovan finished 3-for-5 with a home run, two RBIs and one run scored, and Swaggerty went 3-for-5 with a home run, one RBI and three runs scored. Perkins added a hit, one RBI and one run scored.
- MacDonald finished 3-for-5 with a double, one home run, three RBIs and one run scored to lead the Red Wolves offensively.
- ASU left-hander Payton Lannon (0-3) allowed two runs on two hits with a pair of strikeouts in one relief inning in the loss.
- Jaguar right-hander Nick DeSantis allowed five runs on six hits with a season-high seven strikeouts against one walk in three relief innings to record his first save of the season.
- South Alabama snapped a four-game losing skid with the win.

QUOTES
Head Coach Mark Calvi
- On the win:
"We needed to win after losing the first two games (of the series). We had been playing well up to that point, but I give our guys credit; they came out and won a baseball game today. It all starts on the mound, and Jared Proctor was really good for us. We swung the bats well; Michael Sandle and Brendan Donovan came up big, and there were a couple of other guys in there with some RBIs. But Proctor was the story today; I thought he did an outstanding job on the mound for us."

- On the offense:
"We squared up 10 balls Friday night, and eight or nine more yesterday. It was one of those weekends, but you tip your hat to Arkansas State. Their kids did a good job pitching. There were some bad at-bats in there, and if there were bad at-bats across the board then it would be time to make a fix. But if you hit 10 balls on the screws and they don't fall, there's not much you can say to the guys. I thought some of our at-bats were good, and a few (hits) fell for us today but it all started on the mound with Jared Proctor."

UP NEXT
South Alabama will return to action next weekend when it travels to Little Rock, Ark., for a three-game SBC series with Little Rock, beginning with game one Fri., May 4, at 6 p.m.

Vaughan Powers Mavs Past Trojans
TROY, Ala. – Noah Vaughan cranked two home runs and drove in a career-high four, leading UTA baseball to a 16-11 win at Troy in the finale of the three-game series, on Sunday afternoon at Riddle-Pace Field.

UTA (21-23, 11-10 Sun Belt Conference) battled Troy (30-14, 13-8 Sun Belt) in a back and forth series finale, with Troy opening the game with single runs in the first and second. After the Mavs took the lead with the first of two homers from Vaughan in a three-run fourth, Troy tied it in the bottom of the fifth. UTA then exploded four four runs – including Vaughan's second blast of the game – to take a 7-3 lead. Troy immediately answered to tie the game at 7-7 in the bottom of the seventh inning.

The Mavs then plated eight runs on nine hits in the eighth inning to take a 15-7 lead, adding a run in the ninth.

LEADING THE MAVS
UTA collected 19 hits in the game, including three-hit outings from Vaughan and Omar Salinas. Vaughan cranked his ninth and 10th homers of the year and tied his career high with four RBI. Salinas went 3-for-4 with an RBI.

Will Olson cranked his seventh homer of the year, going 3-for-5 with three RBI and a double. Aaron Funk came off the bench to go 2-for-2 with his first homer of the year, with Josh Minjarez going 2-for-6 with his fourth homer of the year. The Mavs also got hits from Zac Cook and Jakob Nunez.

ON THE MOUND
UTA starter Ka'ikepono Anderson worked six innings, allowing five hits and five runs, walking two and striking out four. Jordon West (2-1) worked the seventh and eighth innings before turning to Logan Austin with one down and the bases loaded in the ninth.

Troy starter Levi Thomas worked five innings, allowing five hits and three runs – the first allowed in his career – striking out four. Corey Childress opened the sixth inning and worked an out, allowing three runs and four hits. Rush Hixon entered in relief in the sixth and got two outs. Sadler Goodwin (3-4) opened the seventh working 1.1 innings. Zack Lightsey came on in the eighth inning and Lance Johnson worked into the ninth.

NEXT
The Mavs will return to action on Tuesday, traveling to face Dallas Baptist at 6:30 p.m. CT.

HOW THEY SCORED
Troy took the lead in the bottom of the first inning, getting a leadoff hit from Matt Sanders, who stole second and took third on an error. An RBI groundout scored Sanders for a 1-0 lead.

Brody Binder hit a solo homer over the leftfield fence to leadoff the second inning, his second of the yea, stretching the Trojans lead to 2-0.

Minjarez got a run back with a solo shot to leadoff the fourth inning, his fourth of the year, sent over the fence in left-centerfield. UTA then got Hollie on with a single into leftfield o bring up Vaughan. Vaughan worked the count full and pounded a two-run shot over the 30-foot wall in rightfield to give the Mavs a 3-2 lead with his ninth homer of the year.

Drew Frederic tied the game up with his fifth homer of the year, lofted over the wall in rightfield in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Olson matched the Frederic blast with a solo shot of his own in the top of the sixth, lining it over the 400-foot sign in deep right-centerfield. It was Olson's seventh homer of the year. Vaughan then sent his second homer of the game and 10th of year over the rightfield fence. Salinas then drew a five-pitch walk, taking second on a wild pitch. After a Nunez single and a walk from Funk to load the bases, Johnson singled into centerfield to score Salinas. Zac Cook then legged out the back end of a double play to allow Nunez to score.

Troy opened the inning in the seventh with a walk, hit natter and walk, before Frederic cleared the bases with a double into the gap. Joey Denison then tied the game with a double off the wall in rightfield.

Funk singled to right on the first pitch of the top of the eighth and Johnson reached after his sacrifice bunt went as a throwing error. Cook then loaded the bases with a two-strike single, stretching his hit streak to 12 games. After a strikeout, Olson ripped a two-run double on a 2-1 offering inside the first base bag, scoring Funk and Johnson. After a Hollie walk loaded the bases, Cook scored on a balk from third. With the infield playing in, Vaughan pulled an RBI single through the right side, allowing Olson to score from third. With Vaughan in motion from first base with a 1-2 count, Salinas poked a single through the left side, allowing Hollie to score. A sac fly from Nunez to rightfield then scored Vaughan for a 13-7 lead. Funk then launched a two-run homer over the rightfield fence, giving the Mavs a 15-7 lead.

Hollie hung a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning to score Minjarez, who led off the inning with a single.

Troy plate four runs in the ninth inning for the final margin.

Coastal Wins, 17-16, on Walk Off to Sweep UL Monroe
CONWAY - In a back-and-forth game it was only appropriate that UL Monroe would score two runs in the top of the ninth to take a one-run lead only to see Coastal Carolina rally in the bottom half of the frame as Seth Lancaster hit a two-run, walk-off home run to lead the 16th-ranked Chanticleers to a 17-16 victory Sunday afternoon at Springs Brooks Stadium.

With the win, Coastal Carolina (31-14 overall, 17-4 Sun Belt) sweeps the Warhawks (18-25, 7-14). The walk-off victory is the Chanticleers' fifth this season and secures CCU's third conference sweep of the season. Overall, Coastal has won all seven league series this season and 11 straight dating back to last season, including eight sweeps while winning 28 of its last 32 league games.

Coastal scored first in the second inning, but ULM would take a 9-4 lead after hitting a grand slam in the sixth inning. However, Coastal scored 10 runs over the next two innings -- four in the sixth and six in the seventh -- to lead 14-9. The Warhawks battled back to score five in the eighth to tie the contest at 14-14. With bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth, Coastal scored on a wild pitch for a one-run lead.

However, in the ninth, ULM loaded the bases with one out on a walk, single and hit by pitch. Then with two outs, Brendan Jordan walked to force in the tying run. On the next pitch, Will Daniels was hit by pitch to force in a second run and a temporary 16-15 lead. With bases still loaded and Peyton Lacoste facing a 2-2 count, Coastal turned to Trevor Damron out of the bullpen. The freshman threw one pitch to strike out Lacoste to limit the damage.

In the bottom of the ninth, Keaton Weisz drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on a Matt Beaird sacrifice bunt. Two batters later, Lancaster hit his 12th home run of the season to lift the Chanticleers to the victory.

Not only did the teams combine to score for 33 runs in a contest that last 4:56 minutes, but they combined for 36 hits (20 by CCU and 16 by ULM). Kieton Rivers led the way, going 5-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. ULM's Dino Marucci came off the bench to go 4-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored.

In addition to Rivers, Lancaster, Kevin Woodall Jr. and Lee Sponseller, each had three hits while Woodall, who scored four times, and Parker Chavers each drove in four. Sponseller also had three RBI and three runs scored.

Damron (1-1) get the win. He was one of 13 pitchers used in the game. Derek Martin (0-1) suffered the loss.

The scoring started in the second inning as Rivers and Weisz each had doubles to give Coastal Carolina 1 1-0 lead.

The Warhawks tied the game in the top of the third when Spencer Hemphill hit a leadoff home run. ULM added a second run as Johnny DeLaCruz hit a two-out single, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a CCU error.

Coastal put three runs on the scoreboard in the third to regain the advantage, 4-2. Lancaster and Woodall singled prior to a two-out double by Sponseller. Rivers followed with a two-run double for a two-run CCU advantage.

ULM jumped back on top, 5-4, with three runs in the top of the fifth. Joey Jordan singled and Braedon Barrett walked to set up a three-run triple by Marucci. DeLaCruz then plated Marucci with a sac fly to right field.

The Warhawks pushed their lead to 9-4 in the sixth as Barrett hit a two-out grand slam. Daniels walked with one out. Joe Jordan singled with two outs and Spencer Hemphill walked to load the bases. Barrett then cleared the bases with his grand slam over the 20-foot batter's eye in centerfield, marking the sixth person to accomplish the feat in this the third year of Springs Brooks Stadium and third of which being a grand slam.

Coastal answered with four runs in the bottom of the sixth. Lancaster walked and Woodall hit his 16th home run of the season. It also marked the third straight day Woodall had two RBI. With two outs, Sponseller and Rivers singled. Chavers then delivered a two-run double down the left field line to make cut the CCU deficit to one, 9-8.

The Chanticleers then put a six-spot on the board in the seventh to take a 14-9 lead. Beaird started the home half with a single and Cory Wood laid down a bunt single. After a Lancaster sacrifice bunt, Woodall beat the shift ULM put on him by chopping a single through the right side of the infield and driving in both Beaird and Wood. Two batters later and with two outs, Sponseller cleared the right-center field wall for a two-run homer, his sixth home run of the season. After a Rivers single, Chavers duplicated Sponseller with a two-run home run over the right-center field wall. Chavers now has five home runs this season.

ULM did not go away, scoring five in the top of the eighth to tie the game, 14-14. Hemphill hit a leadoff double and scored on a Barrett double. Marucci brought home Barrett with an RBI single to right-center. Chad Bell singled and Jordan walked to load the bases. Daniels made it a one-run game with a two-run single to left field with Jordan taking third on the play. Peyton Lacoste then tied the game with a sacrifice fly to center field.

Coastal bounced back with a run in the bottom of the eighth. Woodall walked with one out. Two batters later, Cameron Pearcey and Buis were hit on back-to-back pitches to load the bases with two outs. ULM's Cole Gray threw a wild pitch to bring home Woodall.

Coastal Carolina will not play again until next Friday (May 4) with a three-game conference series at Louisiana.

Trojans Take Series With 12-6 Win Over Mountaineers
BOONE, N.C. – Little Rock's bats continued to thrive in the Appalachian mountains, breaking out 12 runs on 14 hits to capture the weekend series against Appalachian State 12-6 Sunday afternoon, wrapping up its eight-game road trip.

The victory improves the Trojans to 23-19 on the season and 12-8 in Sun Belt Conference play as the Trojans remain in first place of the Sun Belt West Division.

After scoring just 15 runs in the first five games of the season-long road swing, the Trojans crossed home plate 28 times in the three-game set in Boone. The 12 runs on the day is tied for the second-most in a game this season for Little Rock, one shy of the 13 runs scored in the 15-13 loss against UT Arlington on March 24.

"I'm really proud of our guys for how they battled and fought all weekend," said head coach Chris Curry. "What a job Buck, Garcia and Perez did as Garcia threw all three days and Buck and Perez both came in Friday and today. Our offense was relentless today. We knew it would take all day and the guys kept fighting and they don't quit. I'm very proud of them."

All but two of Little Rock's starters registered at least one hit in the series finale, led by three hits each for Matt Merino and Ryan Benavides. Benavidez was 3-for-4 with two doubles and a home run, driving in one and scoring three times himself while Merino finished 3-for-6 with two doubles and a pair of RBI.

Christian Reyes and Chase Coker each tallied a pair of hits against the Mountaineer pitching staff while Nick Perez went 1-for-5 with three RBI while also pitching a scoreless inning in relief. Kale Emshoff also drove in a pair of runs and scored one himself for Little Rock.

App State struck first in the bottom of the first inning, connecting on a two-out single which scored a pair of Mountaineers, putting the Trojans in an early 2-0 hole.

Little Rock began chipping away at the deficit in the top of the second as Riley Pittman knocked a solo home run over the right field wall, cutting Appalachian State's lead in half at 2-1. The Trojans then flipped the lead in the top of the third off a two RBI single from Kale Emshoff, bringing Danny Mitchell Jr. and Marcus Ragan home to put Little Rock on top 3-2.

The Trojans added another run in the fourth as Chase Coker drilled a double to right center, plating Christian Reyes and giving Little Rock the 4-2 lead. However that advantage was wiped away in the bottom half of the inning as a Mountaineer two-run home run evened the tally to 4-4 after four complete.

The scoring momentum carried into the fifth as the Trojans put together a crucial four-run inning, breaking the game open at 8-4. The inning with a Matt Merino double down the left field line, followed by Emshoff drawing a 3-2 walk. With one gone, Nick Perez blasted the first pitch he saw over the left field wall, giving Little Rock the 7-4 lead.

Not to be outdone, Ryan Benavidez joined the home run party, sending the next pitch over the right field wall as the Trojans doubled up the Mountaineers 8-4 after six complete.

Little Rock was kept off the board in the sixth but Applachian State would threaten in the home half of the inning as a pair of singles and a 3-2 walk loaded the bases for the Mountaineers. But Donavin Buck was able to draw a long fly out to Pittman down the right field line, ending Appalachian State's threat.

Benavides struck again in the seventh, drawing a four-pitch walk before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Reyes then knocked a single to short who mishandled the play, allowing Benavidez to cross the plate and push the Trojans' lead to 9-4.

Appalachian State chipped away at the Little Rock lead with a run in both the seventh and eighth innings, pulling to within three at 9-6, leaving a pair of runners in scoring position in the seventh.

But Little Rock ensured it would win its seventh series of the season with three runs in the top of the ninth to put the game away. Emshoff led off the stanza with a double, followed by Reyes being hit by a pitch and Coker with a bunt single to load the bases. Mitchell Jr. brought Benavides home on a ground out to second, setting the stage for Merino who plated two more on a two-out single to give the Trojans the 12-6 cushion.

Donavin Buck picks up the win for the Trojans, improving to 5-0 on the year after coming on to pitch the fifth and sixth innings and limiting the Mountaineers to one run on three hits. Starter Aaron Funk pitched the first four innings, allowing three runs on four hits, while Justin Garcia and Perez combined to allow one run on three hits over the final three innings.

After spending the last two weeks on the road, playing eight games in three different states, Little Rock finally returns to Gary Hogan Field for weekend series against South Alabama. Game one against the Jaguars is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, May 4.

Lahare Lifts Louisiana Baseball To Series Win At Georgia State
ATLANTA – Junior Daniel Lahare's two-run homer in the ninth inning lifted the Louisiana baseball team to a 9-7 victory over Georgia State in the rubber game on Sunday at the GSU Baseball Complex.

The win gave the Ragin' Cajuns (26-20, 12-9 SBC) their fourth consecutive series win, all coming in conference play. The Cajuns finish the weekend half a game out of first place in the Sun Belt West Division behind Little Rock. Louisiana is now 14-4 since starting the second half of the season.

Senior right-hander Dylan Moore notched his second win of the week and third of the season tossing 2.0 innings with a run on two hits and a strikeout.

Trey Horton took the loss for the Panthers (21-22, 7-13 SBC) after giving up two runs on one hit with three strikeouts in 3.0 innings of work.

The Ragin' Cajuns were outhit 13-6 in the game as senior Kennon Fontenot saw his team-best 25-game on base streak come to an end.

LEADING THE CAJUNS

Junior Kole McKinnon reached base four times in the game going 1-for-2 with a walk, was hit by a pitch, drove in a run and scored three times. Both Lahare and Gavin Bourgeois had a game-high three RBI with a home run.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Georgia State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on a pair of solo home runs to left field by Will Kilgore and Ryan Glass.

Louisiana cut the lead to 2-1 in the top of the third when Lahare brought home McKinnon on a sacrifice fly to deep centerfield.

The Panthers got a run back in the bottom half of the third as Kendall Ford scored on a ground ball hit to second by Nick Gatewood to make the score 3-1.

The Ragin' Cajuns exploded for five runs on two hits and three errors to take a 6-3 advantage in the fifth inning. McKinnon brought home the first run of the inning on a ground ball to second base. After McKinnon scored on a Ford error, Bourgeois drove a 2-1 pitch from Lee over the fence in left field for a three-run homer.

The Cajuns increased the lead to 7-3 in the top of the sixth on an RBI single to right field by Jonathan Windham with two outs.

The lead would be erased in the bottom of the eighth as Georgia State scored four runs on five hits to tie the game at 7-all. A two-run double to right center by pinch hitter Kalen Puckett highlighted the scoring in the inning.

In the top of the ninth, Lahare drove a 3-2 pitch from Horton over the fence in right for a two-out, two-run homer to give Louisiana the 9-7 victory. The home run was the fourth of the year for Lahare.

UP NEXT

The Ragin' Cajuns will take the midweek off for finals next week before hosting No. 16 Coastal Carolina in a three-game series starting Friday, May 4 at 6:30 p.m. at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park.