CHARLESTON, S.C. — Down 9-1 after a six-run fifth inning, the Georgia Southern Baseball team (31-21) rallied with 13 runs in the final three frames for a 14-9 win over Charleston Southern (27-26) on Tuesday, May 17th.

The Eagles won their final non-conference game as they nearly eclipsed a school record with 17 walks, and after Victor Roache tied a school and Southern Conference single-season record with his 27th home run of the year. He also drove in seven runs, two shy of tying the single-game mark, and scored two runs in six at-bats.

GSU finished just one walk shy of the school record set against Coppin State in 2009 and against Virginia Tech in 1975. Roache homored twice, one a grand slam in the seventh and the other a three-run shot in the ninth inning, to tie not only the school record but the Southern Conference single-season home run record. The sophomore outfielder tied with Ben Abner, who hit 27 in 1984, for the GSU record and Wofford’s Brandon Waring for the SoCon mark (2007). Former Eagle Tommy Peterman had previously held the mark after hitting 26 long balls in 1996.

The Eagles used eight walks and a hit by pitch along with two hits to score nine runs in the seventh inning and took their first lead of the day at 10-9. Two walks opened the inning and two outs were recorded before all nine runs scored.

Shawn Payne walked after the second out and loaded the bases for Roache's grand slam over the scoreboard in left field. Two more walks and a hit by pitch reloaded the bases and four more runs scored on a walk and a three-run double off the bat of Ben Morgan.

Relief pitcher Josh Adams retired the side in order over the final four innings to lock down his second win of the season against the Buccaneers. Adams (W, 7-6) went five innings, allowing three runs on four hits all in the fifth inning. Justin Hess made his fifth start of the season, allowing five earned runs on six hits over four innings of work.

Tyler Vick pitched well in the start for Charleston Southern, allowing one hit and three walks over the first three frames. The next four men out of the bullpen all allowed a run or more with Cory Deighan being tagged with the loss. Deighan (L, 1-2) allowed three runs on a single hit while walking two batters without recording an out.

Charleston Southern jumped ahead 3-0 after the third inning scoring two runs on a wild pitch. Georgia Southern got a run back in the fifth inning but six more Buccaneers came across in the bottom half of the inning to extend their lead to 9-1. It would be all Georgia Southern from there on out.

Georgia Southern sets its sights Appalachian State next. The Eagles take on the Mountaineers in the final Southern Conference series of the year starting on Thursday at 6 p.m.