AMERICUS, Ga. — A back-and-forth nonconference battle came down to the final innings Tuesday night at Hurricane Stadium, where Georgia Southwestern pushed across the go-ahead run in the eighth to defeat Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, 5-4.
With the win, the Hurricanes even their record at 4-4, while the Eagles fall to 2-5.
Early Punches Traded
Embry-Riddle struck first in the top of the opening inning, using a two-out RBI single from Drew Clymer to take a 1-0 lead.
The Hurricanes answered in the third. After singles from
Kelsen Johnson and
Devon Murphy,
Josh McDonald lined an RBI single to left center to tie the game. Two batters later,
Evan Wainman delivered a run-scoring single to right center to give GSW a 2-1 edge.
The Eagles quickly responded. A sacrifice fly in the third evened the score, and in the fourth Max McClusky launched his first home run of the season, a two-run shot to left field, to put Embry-Riddle back in front, 4-2.
Fifth-Inning Spark Levels the Score
Georgia Southwestern battled back in the bottom of the fifth.
After
Drake Harman drew a walk,
Edwin Melendez ripped an RBI double to right center to cut the deficit to one. Moments later,
Drew Reaves followed with a double of his own to left center, scoring Melendez and tying the game at 4-4.
The Hurricanes' pitching staff settled in from there.
Rem Maxwell and
Cooper Sain combined to keep Embry-Riddle off the board over the final four innings, giving the offense a chance to deliver late.
Murphy Delivers the Difference
The decisive moment came in the bottom of the eighth.
With two outs,
Caleb Gipson singled to left and Johnson worked a walk to put two aboard. Murphy — who finished with two hits on the night — came through with a clutch single up the middle, scoring Gipson to give the Hurricanes a 5-4 lead.
Sain (1-2) closed the door in the ninth, stranding the tying run and securing his first win of the season.
By the Numbers
GSW pounded out 12 hits on the night, with Murphy leading the charge with three. Johnson and Melendez added two hits apiece, while Reaves and Wainman each drove in a run.
Embry-Riddle totaled eight hits, highlighted by McClusky's two-run homer and Clymer's three-hit performance.
Next Up
The Hurricanes will look to carry the momentum into conference play as they entertain USC Beaufort this weekend at Hurricane Stadium starting Friday night at 6 p.m.
