BURLINGTON, N.C. -- Georgia Southern pounded out 15 hits as the Eagles defeated Elon 10-2 in Southern Conference baseball action at the Burlington Athletic Stadium Friday night.
Georgia Southern (18-17, 9-4) opened the scoring in the top of the first inning. James Payne opened the game with a single and moved to third on a single by Brandon Burnsed. Brandon Long’s ground out to second base drove in Payne for a 1-0 Eagle lead.
The Eagles added two more runs to their lead in the fifth. With one out, Brandon Ponder walked and moved to third on Payne’s single to center. Ponder proceeded to score as Burnsed attempted to lay down a suicide squeeze. However, the ball bounced over the arm of a diving Phoenix first baseman Evan Erickson, giving Burnsed a double and moving Payne to third. Long proceeded to hit a bloop single over a drawn in infield, driving in Payne and giving Georgia Southern a 3-0 lead.
Elon (16-18, 9-7) answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning to cut its deficit back a single run. Eagle starter John Carroll hit Paul Bennett to open the inning before allowing a base hit to Gary Morris. After a pair of strike outs and a wild pitched moved both players into scoring position, Chris Price laced a single through the left side of the infield to drive in both Bennett and Morris, cutting the GSU advantage to 3-2.
Georgia Southern increased its lead to 5-2 in the sixth inning. With one out, Flint Wipke reached base on a passed ball on a swinging third strike. The Eagle catcher moved to third on a base hit by Travis Adkinson and scored when Brandon Ponder reached on a base hit bunt on another suicide squeeze. A Payne base hit and a fielding error by Elon centerfielder allowed Adkinson to come home, giving the Eagles once again a three-run lead.
The Eagles pushed their lead to six runs in the seventh. Grant Burruss greeted reliever George Blystone with an infield single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Mike Economos. After a stolen base put Burruss at third, Flint Wipke’s single to left drove in the Eagle designated hitter. Kevin Regan relieved Blystone and walked the first three batters that he faced to force in Wipke before allowing a sacrifice fly to Burnsed that scored Adkinson for an 8-2 Georgia Southern lead.
The Eagles closed out the scoring with a two-run double by Adkinson in the eighth. Burnsed finished the night four-of-four with a pair of runs batted in while Payne was three-of-five with two runs scored. Adkinson collected two hits, two runs scored and two RBI in four plate appearances. Carroll allowed seven hits and two runs while walking none and striking out a season-high 12 in his third complete game of the year to improve to 4-4 on the season.
Morris led the Phoenix with two hits in as many at-bats while Price was one-of-four with two RBI. Elon starter Matt Garner went six innings, giving up nine hits and five runs, three earned, while walking two and striking out six as he fell to 3-4.
The two teams continue the two-game series Saturday, April 10 at 1:30 p.m. in Latham Park in Elon, N.C.
-- ELON -- Game Box Score
