DAVIDSON, N.C. — The Georgia Southern Baseball team rallied with a run in each of the last two innings to complete the sweep of Davidson on Saturday. Kyle Rowe tossed a perfect frame in the bottom half of the ninth inning to secure the 7-6 win, the Eagles' 13th-straight over the Wildcats.
Rowe (5-1) tossed the final two innings for his team-leading fifth victory of the season. The junior transfer from Santa Fe College allowed just one hit and struck out a pair of batters, including Drew Gadaire to end the game. Will Middour (Atlanta, Ga.) lasted just two innings in his fourth start of the year. The sophomore was tagged for five runs — three earned — on four hits and three walks.
Georgia Southern (18-15, 8-7) cut Davidson's (11-18, 3-12) lead to one run in the eighth inning on a solo home run by Chase Griffin and took a one-run lead on a base hit off the bat of T.D. Davis. Davis swung at the first pitch he saw and scored pinch-runner Zac Lenns from second base. Lenns ran for Griffin, who walked with two outs to start the rally, and his run handed Ryan Lowe his second loss of the season. Lowe (1-2) allowed one run on a hit and four walks in 1.2 innings.
Davidson opened the game with two runs in the first inning and struck first for the first time in the series. The Wildcats scored a pair of unearned runs when center fielder Scooter Williams lost a pop fly in the sun. A pair of two out walks in Drew Gadaire and Andrew Barna scored on the error after a wild pitch moved both into scoring position.
Georgia Southern responded and took a 4-2 lead two innings later on five-straight hits. Eric Phillips gave the Eagles the lead with a two-RBI double that bounced over the head of the third baseman and plated two runs. Michael Burruss (Marietta, Ga.) drove in the first run of the game for the Eagles with a base hit down the right field line. After the Phillips double, Griffin followed with a single up the middle to score Phillips from third base.
Davidson came right back in the bottom half of the third inning to retake the lead. The Wildcats took advantage of the high sun again and scored two more runs on a ball lost in the sky. Andrew Barna ended Middour's day with a RBI single to right field, the third-straight hit to start the inning, driving in the first run of the inning.
The two teams traded single runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Griffin doubled to lead off the sixth inning, one of three hits on the day for the freshman, and came around to score on a two-out wild pitch. Davidson got the run back in the seventh on a two-out single from Jake Berman. Berman plated Forrest Brandt, who led off the inning with a base hit to center.
Georgia Southern returns home for a mid-week contest against Kennesaw State on Tuesday at 6 p.m. The Eagles will be at home this weekend against Appalachian State, who is atop the SoCon standings, and will play at 6 p.m. on Saturday following the Blue White spring football game.
