Jeremiah Parker hit a key two-run homer and Kyle Kamppi closed out the game as Georgia Southern defeated New Jersey Tech 5-4 Saturday afternoon at J.I. Clements Stadium. The Eagles (7-2 overall) won their sixth straight while NJIT fell to 0-2.
Coming off a 34-1 rout Friday, Georgia Southern was out-hit for the first time this season. NJIT held a 13-10 edge in hits but could not capitalize in the late innings.
Down 5-3, NJIT cut the deficit in half during the eighth. A.J. Battisto retired the first batter he faced but the Highlanders followed with consecutive singles, which prompted coach Rodney Hennon to bring in Kamppi.
He struck out Mike Turner for the second out. Kamppi unloaded a wild pitch to advance both runners then walked Kwesi Mitchell on a 3-2 pitch to load the bases. Another wild pitch during Chris Cardone’s at-bat brought home a run. But Cardone hit a comebacker to Kamppi, ending the inning.
Phillip Porter hit a double in his third consecutive game, lining a shot down the right field line to start the third. He scored on Brian Pierce’s RBI single.
Chris Shehan lined a leadoff double in the fourth inning, the third straight inning Southern had done so. Parker
followed with a shot into the trees beyond the left field fence, giving GSU a 3-2 lead.
The Highlanders tied the game in the fifth with Derrick McCain’s RBI single.
Mike Economos kept the leadoff double streak alive, hitting one into the right field gap to start the fifth. He scored on A.J. Wirnsberger’s single, putting the Eagles ahead for good.
Porter reached on an infield single to start the sixth inning. He stole second base, advanced to third on Scott’s throw and scored on Pierce’s sacrifice fly.
“We did enough to win the game today,” said Hennon. “Kyle (Kamppi) did a nice job out of the bullpen to earn the save. I thought New Jersey Tech played a solid ballgame, we were fortunate to find a way to win.
“They took some good swings against (starting pitcher) Brian (Wilkerson), but he didn’t do a lot to hurt himself. We didn’t let them get the big inning, allowing them the four one-run innings.
“We cannot expect to continue the current pace of getting 14-16 hits a game. You have to give credit to their pitching staff. It was a good win despite the fact we weren’t as sharp offensively.”
Wilkerson (2-1) allowed three runs on 10 hits in seven innings of work.
Kamppi allowed the one hit and fanned three to earn his second save.
Economos, Porter and Pierce had two hits apiece. Porter also scored two runs.
Jeremy Beckham swiped a career-high three bases,
improving to 9-for-9 on the season.
Georgia Southern goes for the series sweep today at 1:30 p.m.
Coming off a 34-1 rout Friday, Georgia Southern was out-hit for the first time this season. NJIT held a 13-10 edge in hits but could not capitalize in the late innings.
Down 5-3, NJIT cut the deficit in half during the eighth. A.J. Battisto retired the first batter he faced but the Highlanders followed with consecutive singles, which prompted coach Rodney Hennon to bring in Kamppi.
He struck out Mike Turner for the second out. Kamppi unloaded a wild pitch to advance both runners then walked Kwesi Mitchell on a 3-2 pitch to load the bases. Another wild pitch during Chris Cardone’s at-bat brought home a run. But Cardone hit a comebacker to Kamppi, ending the inning.
Phillip Porter hit a double in his third consecutive game, lining a shot down the right field line to start the third. He scored on Brian Pierce’s RBI single.
Chris Shehan lined a leadoff double in the fourth inning, the third straight inning Southern had done so. Parker
followed with a shot into the trees beyond the left field fence, giving GSU a 3-2 lead.
The Highlanders tied the game in the fifth with Derrick McCain’s RBI single.
Mike Economos kept the leadoff double streak alive, hitting one into the right field gap to start the fifth. He scored on A.J. Wirnsberger’s single, putting the Eagles ahead for good.
Porter reached on an infield single to start the sixth inning. He stole second base, advanced to third on Scott’s throw and scored on Pierce’s sacrifice fly.
“We did enough to win the game today,” said Hennon. “Kyle (Kamppi) did a nice job out of the bullpen to earn the save. I thought New Jersey Tech played a solid ballgame, we were fortunate to find a way to win.
“They took some good swings against (starting pitcher) Brian (Wilkerson), but he didn’t do a lot to hurt himself. We didn’t let them get the big inning, allowing them the four one-run innings.
“We cannot expect to continue the current pace of getting 14-16 hits a game. You have to give credit to their pitching staff. It was a good win despite the fact we weren’t as sharp offensively.”
Wilkerson (2-1) allowed three runs on 10 hits in seven innings of work.
Kamppi allowed the one hit and fanned three to earn his second save.
Economos, Porter and Pierce had two hits apiece. Porter also scored two runs.
Jeremy Beckham swiped a career-high three bases,
improving to 9-for-9 on the season.
Georgia Southern goes for the series sweep today at 1:30 p.m.
