STATESBORO - Noah Ledford's 426 foot-long home run proved to be the difference in a 8-6 win, as the Georgia Southern baseball team took down the ULM Warhawks in walk-off fashion Friday night at J.I. Clements Stadium.
The Warhawks (15-27, 5-13 SBC) got on the board early with a three-run jack to right center field, taking a 3-0 lead before the Eagles (21-21, 11-8 SBC) had a chance to bat. The score held at 3-0 until the bottom of the the fourth inning, whe a sac fly from Blake Evans brought home Luke Hatcher to get the Eagles on the board. ULM would try to put some distance between the two, as the Warhawks responded in the top of the sixth inning, first with an RBI-single, then with a two-run homer to double the lead at 6-1.
Georgia Southern began its rally in the bottom of the sixth inning, first with a three-run home run to left center field by JP Tighe, cutting the lead to 6-4. The Eagles inched closer with an RBI-groundout by Ledford, with ULM then holding a slim one-run lead over GS, 6-5. In the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs, Ledford planted and swung, sending a no-doubter past the YellaWood Deck and driving home three runs, giving the Eagles its first walk-off win of the season and a Sun Belt Conference series-opening win.
Jay Thompson earned his fourth win of the season after being the Georgia Southern pitcher who was in as Ledford knocked his homer to end the game.
QUICK HITS
- Noah Ledford has moved to fifth all-time in career RBIs at Georgia Southern with 207. He is one away from tying fourth all-time with Ben Abner.
- This is the first walk-off the Eagles have had this season.
- All but one starter recorded a hit in the game. Blake Evans was the lone Eagle with multiple hits tonight.
- Tonight's three pitchers recorded seven total strikeouts; starter Ty Fisher tallied four, Ga'von Wray tallied one, and Jay Thompson sat down two.
- Ledford's home run in the bottom of the ninth inning was the first home run over the YellaWood Deck by an Eagle.