STATESBORO - Georgia Southern scored in every inning but one to set a new school-record of 35 runs scored to defeat the ULM Warhawks on Saturday afternoon at J.I. Clements Stadium.
Georgia Southern (22-21, 12-8 SBC) started off the game with four runs in the bottom of the first inning, which was highlighted by a Blake Evans two-RBI single that scored both Noah Ledford and Corey Dowdell. The Eagles would score three more in the bottom of the second inning, first from Ledford's second home run of the series, a two-run bomb that brought Jesse Sherrill home as well, followed by an RBI-single by JP Tighe that also scored Luke Hatcher. Another three-runs crossed the plate for the Eagles in the bottom of the third inning, including Jarrett Brown stealing home on a double-steal that saw Dowdell earn his first career stolen base.
The bottom of the fourth inning saw the Eagle bats catch fire and score eight runs, which included four home runs in the inning, three of which were back-to-back-to-back. Brown launched a three-run shot to left field, followed by a Dowdell solo shot to left field, a Hatcher solo shot to left field, and a Evans solo shot over the Blue Monster. ULM (15-28, 5-13 SBC) would get on the board with five runs in the top of the fifth inning, and that would be the only frame where the Eagles would not score. The Eagles came back to bat in the bottom of the sixth inning, where Evans launched his second homer of the day, a three-run shot again over the Blue Monster, taking a 21-5 lead over the Warhawks. A Brown two-RBI double would tally the lead to 23-5 to end the sixth inning.
Georgia Southern plated four more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, highlighted by Jarrett Jenkins first collegaite hit, a two-RBI double to right field that plated Sam Blancato and JC Peacher. After ULM earned two more runs in the top of the seventh inning, the Eagles led 27-8 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning. Hunter Noblitt's first Division I hit got the scoring started with a single that scored Jonathan Jaime, followed by a Kyler Hultgren based-loaded hit by pitcher. A dropped fly by the second baseman allowed Jenkins to get on base, and a Brown RBI-single, Cameron Crosby RBI-groundout, and a Jaime two-RBI double would get the Eagles to 34 runs, tying the school record for most runs scored in a game. With two outs, AJ Wenrich was able to reach base on a fielding error by the first baseman, which allowed Jaime to score run number 35, setting the new record for the Eagles.
Will Robbins earned the second win of the season after finishing the fifth inning with the Eagles' lead.
QUICK HITS
- Every Eagles starter recorded at least one RBI, with Jarrett Brown leading the way with eight RBI.
- Brown led the way on offense with a 6-for-8 day, but Blake Evans also had a 5-for-6 day, including two home runs, and Luke Hatcher had a 4-for-5 day, including a homer.
- The previous record for runs scored in a game was 34 against NJIT in 2007.
- Additionally, the Eagles tied the school record for most hits in a game.
- Ledford sits alone at fourth all-time in school history in RBI in a career with 209.
UP NEXT
The Eagles look for its second conference sweep this season when they finish the series against ULM on Sunday, April 30. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.