GEORGIA SOUTHERN 13, HAWAII 11
HONOLULU, Hawai’i ? Mike Economos (Atlanta/Marist) posted career-highs of five hits, going 5-for-5, with five runs scored in addition to five RBI, and the Georgia Southern bullpen held on for a 13-11 win over Hawai’i. It was the Eagles’ season opener while the Rainbows dropped to 2-2.
The Rainbows made it interesting in the ninth. Sophomore Kyle Kamppi (Savannah/Benedictine) made his debut, jumping ahead in the count 0-2 on the leadoff hitter, but eight straight balls put the first two runners on. Kris Sanchez singled to right, loading the bases. Eli Christensen hit a soft liner for the first out, then Kamppi struck out Evan Zimny swinging. However, a wild pitch and walk brought home two runs, putting the tying run into scoring position. Kamppi got Matt Roquemore looking to end the game.
The Eagles got off to a strong start in the top of the first. Jeremy Beckham (Griffin/Griffin) lined a one-out single, then Matt Miller (Canton/Woodstock) hustled out a double to put runners into scoring position. Economos lined his first 2-run double into the right field gap. A.J. Wirnsberger (Tuscaloosa, AL/Paul Bear Bryant) walked to load the bases. Chris Shehan (Strasburg, PA/Lampeter-Strasburg) ripped a 2-run single for a 4-0 lead.
Hawai’i answered with three runs in its half, all unearned thanks to an error, off two hits. Economos delivered again in the second inning. The senior right fielder lined another 2-run double and Griffin Benedict (Dunwoody/St. Pius) added a RBI single for a 7-3 lead.
The Rainbows got one of those runs back in the second on a RBI single by Justin Frash. Beckham had a RBI groundout in the third, extending the lead to 8-4. Josh Lairsey (Waycross/Ware County) missed on a 1-2-3 inning in the third, giving up a two-out walk. Lairsey, who nearly missed on two pickoffs earlier and was also called for a balk, picked off Zimny to end the inning.
Economos and Benedict singled to start the fourth. Two batters later Jayson Kramer launched a wild pitch, plating Economos. Nathan Young’s fielding error allowed Wirnsberger to score, making it 10-4 Eagles.
Hawai’i cut into the Eagles’ lead in the bottom of the fifth. Sanchez delivered a 2-run single that chased Lairsey with one out. Freshman Charlie Strohecker (Alpharetta/Milton) gave up a 2-run double to Landon Hernandez, but came right back to strike out Kevin Macdonald to end the inning.
Economos responded in the sixth, hammering a solo homer into the trees beyond the left field fence, setting a career-high in hits. Hawai’i threatened in the sixth, however, Benedict gunned down a runner trying to steal second and Strohecker got a flyout to end the threat.
Georgia Southern could not take advantage of a pair of errors to start the seventh in which Rainbows head coach Mike Trapasso was ejected. Chris Hollis (Loganville/Faith Academy) lined out to third, then Frash threw over to first doubling off Brian Pierce (Roswell/Roswell). Beckham struck out to end the threat.
In the eighth, Miller scored on a wild pitch then pinch-hitting freshman Kyle Blackburn (Marietta/Walton) lined a RBI single.
Lairsey was charged for seven runs (four earned) on seven hits in 4.1 innings. Strohecker picked up his first collegiate win, allowing two runs on four hits in 2.2 innings fanning two Rainbow batters.
Beckham, Miller, Benedict and Shehan all had two hits apiece, joining Economos in the 16-hit attack. The Eagles out-hit Hawai’i 16-12.
Frash had three hits while four others had two hits apiece. Harrington (1-1) allowed seven runs on seven hits in 1.1 innings.
“This was a great way to start the year,” said Economos. “All the pitchers came in did pretty well. Kyle (Kamppi), I’m sure his nerves were going, settled down and got it done for us.”
Game two of the series is scheduled for Friday night (Feb. 2), 11:35 p.m. Eastern.