March 12, 2008

Final Stats

STATESBORO, Ga. - Back-to-back homers from senior Andrew Runion (Simpsonville, S.C./Mauldin) and junior Phillip Morgan (Campobello, S.C./Spartanburg Methodist College) in the fifth inning highlighted the USC Upstate baseball team's day, but 13 runs in the first three innings by Georgia Southern led to a 17-8 loss on Wednesday at J.I. Clements Stadium in non-conference action.

Runion and Morgan's back-to-back shots are the first for Upstate since Josh Clark and Bret Story hit consecutive dingers on March 12, 2006, exactly two years ago, in a 17-7 loss to UNC Pembroke. It is the first time the Spartans have hit back-to-back homers as a Division I program.

The Eagles jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the first inning that grew to 13-1 by the third inning. Georgia Southern sent the first eight batter up without the Spartans' recording an out, as they scored seven runs in the first inning. It added four more in the second inning thanks to three walks and two hits, capped by a two-RBI double from Phillip Porter.

Upstate drew first blood in the top of the first, scoring a run as freshman A.J. Clark (Colorado Springs, Colo./Colorado Springs Christian) singled up the middle and senior Andrew Runion (Simpsonville, S.C./Mauldin) added an infield single, setting up junior Phillip Morgan (Campobello, S.C./Spartanburg Methodist College), who launched a double over the center fielder's head to score Clark.

Down 13-1, the Spartans scored two in the fourth inning as Runion singled off the third baseman's outstretched glove, took second on a grounder, third on a single from sophomore Jimmy Tanner (Fayetteville, Ga./Stars Mill) and after a fly out and a wild pitch moved Tanner to second, freshman Keith Bisgounis (Oviedo, Fla./Oviedo) hit a line double to left center to score both runners.

In the fifth, the Spartans closed within 13-6, as Clark walked to set up Runion and Morgan's back-to-back homers. Runion, who hit his third homer and 12th of his career, hit a shot to over the left field wall, while Morgan, who tied Runion for the team lead in homer with his third of the season, sent hits to right-center field, 385 feet away.

The Eagles scored four more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, combining three hits, a walk and a hit batter, as Brian Pierce provided the big hit in the frame with a two-run single.

Upstate added another run in the eighth inning, as it used three walks and a hit batter to get senior Kyle Bowley (Apopka, Fla./Apopka) to score. In the ninth, sophomore Jacob Breen (Marietta, Ga./Birmingham Southern) posted a one-out triple off the center-field wall and scored on a grounder.

The 2-3-4 batters in Upstate's order provided the offensive spark for the team combining to go 7-for-13 with five runs and four RBIs. Runion finished 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs. Clark went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and Morgan went 2-for-4 with a run and two RBIs.

Georgia Southern was led by Brian Pierce, who went 4-for-4 with six RBIs, and Chris Shehan, who went 4-for-4 with four runs. Ty Wright went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs and A,J, Wirnsberger and Jeremiah Parker each added three runs.

Freshman Robert Stegbauer (Hillsboro, Ohio/Lynchburg-Clay) fell to 0-2 after allowing seven runs on three hits and four walks in the first inning. Runion pitched two innings in relief to close the game, striking out one and facing just one batter over the minimum.

Charlie Strohecker (1-0) pitched three innings, allowing three hits and a run to earn the win. He struck out three. He was one of five pitchers used by the Eagles.

Upstate now heads back to Harley Park for the first time in 10 games when it starts a three-game Atlantic Sun series with Campbell, beginning on Friday at 4 p.m.