The first NCAA national rankings were made public Wednesday and Georgia Southern baseball found itself ranked at or near the top in several offensive categories. The Eagles will bring a 14-8 overall record and 3-0 mark in Southern Conference play to the College of Charleston this weekend.
First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6 p.m. with a 1 p.m. start on Saturday and Sunday at Patriots Point.
Georgia Southern leads the nation in batting average (.359) and home runs (2.32 p/g) while also entering this week second in scoring (11.1 runs) and slugging percentage (.633).
Georgia Southern is proving there is no easy out in its line-up. The projected starting line-up for this weekend has nine starters batting .289 or better.
Junior outfielder Chris Shehan (Strasburg, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg), the two-time reigning SoCon 'Player of the Week', stands fifth nationally in runs scored (1.5 p/g) and RBI (1.68) while his team-leading .898 slugging percentage and .466 batting average rank seventh and 16th, respectively. Last weekend he extended his hitting streak to a season-high 10 games. Shehan's nine home runs is the seventh-highest total in the nation.
Fellow junior Phillip Porter (Marietta/Sprayberry), who had his team season-high 15-game hitting streak snapped in the Western Carolina finale, stands 89th nationally hitting at a .413 clip.
Senior second baseman Jeremy Beckham (Griffin/Griffin) has stolen 11-of-13 bases, good for 38th nationally. He brings a .329 batting average into this weekend, more than 80 points higher than last season.
A.J. Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, AL/Paul Bear Bryant) also ranks among the national leaders in various offensive categories. The sophomore third baseman is 52nd in runs scored (26), 51st in home runs (6), 43rd in RBI (27) and 16th in hit by pitches (9). Wirnsberger has also walked (10) and been hit by a pitch (9) more times this year than he has struck out (7).
Junior Blake Nation (Brooks/Starr's Mill) recorded two of his three saves this season during the Western Carolina series. He is tied for 49th nationally in that category. Senior Aaron Eubanks (Moultrie/Colquitt County) leads the staff with three wins, two off the national lead.
This weekend's match-up with the Cougars will showcase two of the top offensive teams in the country. Charleston (16-7 prior to Wednesday night's game at South Carolina, 3-0 SoCon) is third in team batting average (.357), first in scoring (12.5 rpg), first in doubles (3.26 p/g), second in home runs (2.3 p/g) and first in slugging percentage (.643).
First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6 p.m. with a 1 p.m. start on Saturday and Sunday at Patriots Point.
Georgia Southern leads the nation in batting average (.359) and home runs (2.32 p/g) while also entering this week second in scoring (11.1 runs) and slugging percentage (.633).
Georgia Southern is proving there is no easy out in its line-up. The projected starting line-up for this weekend has nine starters batting .289 or better.
Junior outfielder Chris Shehan (Strasburg, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg), the two-time reigning SoCon 'Player of the Week', stands fifth nationally in runs scored (1.5 p/g) and RBI (1.68) while his team-leading .898 slugging percentage and .466 batting average rank seventh and 16th, respectively. Last weekend he extended his hitting streak to a season-high 10 games. Shehan's nine home runs is the seventh-highest total in the nation.
Fellow junior Phillip Porter (Marietta/Sprayberry), who had his team season-high 15-game hitting streak snapped in the Western Carolina finale, stands 89th nationally hitting at a .413 clip.
Senior second baseman Jeremy Beckham (Griffin/Griffin) has stolen 11-of-13 bases, good for 38th nationally. He brings a .329 batting average into this weekend, more than 80 points higher than last season.
A.J. Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, AL/Paul Bear Bryant) also ranks among the national leaders in various offensive categories. The sophomore third baseman is 52nd in runs scored (26), 51st in home runs (6), 43rd in RBI (27) and 16th in hit by pitches (9). Wirnsberger has also walked (10) and been hit by a pitch (9) more times this year than he has struck out (7).
Junior Blake Nation (Brooks/Starr's Mill) recorded two of his three saves this season during the Western Carolina series. He is tied for 49th nationally in that category. Senior Aaron Eubanks (Moultrie/Colquitt County) leads the staff with three wins, two off the national lead.
This weekend's match-up with the Cougars will showcase two of the top offensive teams in the country. Charleston (16-7 prior to Wednesday night's game at South Carolina, 3-0 SoCon) is third in team batting average (.357), first in scoring (12.5 rpg), first in doubles (3.26 p/g), second in home runs (2.3 p/g) and first in slugging percentage (.643).
