For the Georgia Southern baseball team, Friday night’s third inning couldn’t end soon enough.
The College of Charleston was merciless during the frame, hammering out 11 hits and 12 runs — both of which tied school records — and turning a 1-1 game into a blowout. Three different Georgia Southern pitchers worked the inning, which featured a pair of three-run home runs, the first by No. 9 hitter Gabe Marchant and the second by third baseman Ben Lasater.
Charleston (26-8, 9-1) held for the 19-6 win, its seventh straight. The loss ended a two-game winning streak for the Eagles (19-19, 2-8), who were outhit 24-9. Georgia Southern is 0-4 in the opening game of a Southern Conference series this year.
GSU tied the game at 1-1 with two outs in the second when first baseman Jeremiah Parker’s sent a 1-1 pitch over the right-field fence for his fourth home run this year. The Eagles added a run in the fourth on a Mike Economos RBI groundout and cut CofC’s lead to 15-3 an inning later on Chris Shehan’s two-out solo home run to left, his seventh bomb this season.
The Eagles took advantage of two walks and a hit batter in the ninth, scoring three runs on a Will Southwell RBI single and a two-run single by Matt Miller (3-for-5).
Charleston shortstop Oliver Marmol was unstoppable, going 6-for-7 with four runs scored, three RBIs and a two-run, ninth-inning home run to left. He became the first Cougar in CofC history to record six hits in a game. Left fielder Michael Harrington was 4-for-6 and recorded three doubles.
Freshman Brian Wilkerson (4-6) suffered the loss, allowing seven earned runs and nine hits in two innings. Burt Barto recorded two outs in the disastrous third, surrendering six earned runs on five hits. Blake Nation threw 21⁄3 innings of relief for the Eagles and struck out a career-high four batters.
Nick Chigges improved to 6-0, tossing six innings of six-hit ball.
GSU junior left hander Aaron Eubanks (1-2, 3.38) will be up against Charleston sophomore lefty Jeff Beliveau (3-1, 3.24) in today’s 1:30 game.
Clements Crazies tailgate today
The annual Clements Crazies tailgate is today at noon between Iron Works and the Parrish Football Building, adjacent to J.I. Clements. The event is sponsored by Southern Boosters, Ranco Tents and Heritage Bank and will have free food and drinks for everyone. GUS the Eagle mascot and the GSU cheerleaders will be on hand, and football season tickets will be available for purchase. Call Southern Boosters at (912) 681-5520 for more information.
All three games will be sponsored by Dominos, which will give out beach balls today and pizza Sunday.
Alex Pellegrino can be reached at (912) 489-9413.
The College of Charleston was merciless during the frame, hammering out 11 hits and 12 runs — both of which tied school records — and turning a 1-1 game into a blowout. Three different Georgia Southern pitchers worked the inning, which featured a pair of three-run home runs, the first by No. 9 hitter Gabe Marchant and the second by third baseman Ben Lasater.
Charleston (26-8, 9-1) held for the 19-6 win, its seventh straight. The loss ended a two-game winning streak for the Eagles (19-19, 2-8), who were outhit 24-9. Georgia Southern is 0-4 in the opening game of a Southern Conference series this year.
GSU tied the game at 1-1 with two outs in the second when first baseman Jeremiah Parker’s sent a 1-1 pitch over the right-field fence for his fourth home run this year. The Eagles added a run in the fourth on a Mike Economos RBI groundout and cut CofC’s lead to 15-3 an inning later on Chris Shehan’s two-out solo home run to left, his seventh bomb this season.
The Eagles took advantage of two walks and a hit batter in the ninth, scoring three runs on a Will Southwell RBI single and a two-run single by Matt Miller (3-for-5).
Charleston shortstop Oliver Marmol was unstoppable, going 6-for-7 with four runs scored, three RBIs and a two-run, ninth-inning home run to left. He became the first Cougar in CofC history to record six hits in a game. Left fielder Michael Harrington was 4-for-6 and recorded three doubles.
Freshman Brian Wilkerson (4-6) suffered the loss, allowing seven earned runs and nine hits in two innings. Burt Barto recorded two outs in the disastrous third, surrendering six earned runs on five hits. Blake Nation threw 21⁄3 innings of relief for the Eagles and struck out a career-high four batters.
Nick Chigges improved to 6-0, tossing six innings of six-hit ball.
GSU junior left hander Aaron Eubanks (1-2, 3.38) will be up against Charleston sophomore lefty Jeff Beliveau (3-1, 3.24) in today’s 1:30 game.
Clements Crazies tailgate today
The annual Clements Crazies tailgate is today at noon between Iron Works and the Parrish Football Building, adjacent to J.I. Clements. The event is sponsored by Southern Boosters, Ranco Tents and Heritage Bank and will have free food and drinks for everyone. GUS the Eagle mascot and the GSU cheerleaders will be on hand, and football season tickets will be available for purchase. Call Southern Boosters at (912) 681-5520 for more information.
All three games will be sponsored by Dominos, which will give out beach balls today and pizza Sunday.
Alex Pellegrino can be reached at (912) 489-9413.
