College of Charleston 7, #28 Alabama 6
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. ? Junior RF Baker Knox (San Mateo, Fla./Daytona Beach CC) ripped an RBI double down the right-field line and came around to score on a throwing error by Alabama’s Ross Wilson to give College of Charleston a 7-6 come-from-behind win over the Crimson Tide Sunday afternoon at Patriots Point. The Cougars improve to 9-3 on the season and hands #28 Alabama their first loss of the year, dropping the Tide to 8-1.
Down 6-5 entering the bottom of the ninth, senior 1B Justin Brewer (Greer, S.C./Spartanburg Methodist College) hit a two-out single through the right side and freshman pinch runner Dre Watts (Laurens, S.C./Laurens) replaced Brewer at third. Knox came to the plate and stroked a 2-2 pitch off the wall in right, scoring Watts. Wilson took the relay from right field and overthrew third base, allowing Knox to score and set off the Cougars’ celebration.
After the Crimson Tide plated a run in opening frame with a wind-aided home run to left by Josh Rutledge, Charleston took a 3-1 lead with three runs in the fourth inning. Sophomore 3B Matt Leeds (Boca Raton, Fla./American Heritage) walked to open the inning, while junior DH Kolby Epley (Yadkinville, N.C./Forbush) was hit by a pitch and Knox walked to load the bases with one out.
Junior 1B Ross Hanna (Greer, S.C./Spartanburg Methodist College) stroked a RBI single through the left side, scoring Leeds and a sacrifice fly by junior C Robert Pritcher (Charleston, S.C./Spartanburg Methodist College) brought home Epley to give the Cougars the lead. Junior SS Jamie Holler (Rock Hill, S.C./USC Sumter JC) lined a RBI single to left to score Knox and bring the CofC lead to 3-1.
Knox extended the Charleston lead to 4-1 with a solo home run that cleared the left field fence to open up the bottom of the sixth. The Tide exploded for five runs in the seventh, scoring two on a RBI single to left center by John David Smelser and a three-run round-tripper by Josh Rutledge.
The Cougars cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the seventh on a RBI single by junior LF Jose Rodriguez (Hialeah, Fla./Broward College) and mounted a challenge in the eighth but left runners on the corners to end the threat.
Senior Tom Schiller (Rochester, N.Y./Monroe CC) earned the win, tossing 2.2 innings of shutout ball to improve to 3-0. Schiller allowed two hits and struck out three. Junior starter Josh Salay (Rock Hill, S.C./ Spartanburg Methodist College) pitched six innings, allowing seven hits and four runs with three strikeouts. Knox finished the game 3-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored.
Alabama’s Jake Smith took the loss, allowing two runs, one earned, on two hits in 0.2 innings. Rutledge went 2-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored. Taylor Dugas had three hits for the Crimson Tide.
Charleston returns to action Tuesday evening as the Cougars host Toledo at Patriots Point. Game time is set for 5 p.m.
Appalachian State 8, Rider 6
HICKORY, N.C. - Freshman Tyler Zupcic (Charlotte, N.C./Providence) had three hits and seniors Jerod Faggart (Concord, N.C./Northwest Cabarrus) and Wes Hobson (Winston-Salem, N.C./North Forsyth) drove in two runs apiece to lead Appalachian State University baseball to a 8-6 win over Rider on Sunday afternoon at L.P. Frans Stadium.
With the victory, Appalachian completed a three-game weekend sweep of Rider and moved to 9-0 on the year, extending its school record for most consecutive wins to start a season. ASU also matched its longest winning streak at any point in a season since it won 11-straight games in 1996 (the Mountaineers also had a nine-game winning streak from April 18-30 of last year).
Appalachian scored in each of the first four innings on Sunday and led 8-4 after back-to-back RBI doubles from Jeremy Dowdy (Raleigh, N.C./Wakefield) and Hobson in the sixth.
Rider (4-3) scored a run in the seventh and made it interesting in the ninth when it strung together three-straight two-out hits to cut the deficit to 8-6 with the tying run on first base. However, with closer Chris Pattersonm (Laurinburg, N.C./Scotland County) unavailable after pitching 2.1 innings over the first two games of the weekend, ASU's David Port (Dunwoody, Ga./Dunwoody) induced a comebacker to end the game and earn his first career save.
Mountaineer starter Ryan Arrowood (Rutherfordton, N.C./Central) allowed 10 hits over his five innings of work but earned the win to move to 3-0 on the season. The sophomore has now won 16-consecutive decisions since losing his collegiate debut more than a year ago, including his 12-0 record last summer for the Coastal Plain League's Forest City Owls.
Three ASU relievers limited the Broncs, who had 15 hits on the afternoon, to just one earned run over the final four innings of the ballgame.
Zupcic, who was 3-for-4 at the plate, scored two of the Mountaineers' eight runs. Dowdy and Doug Jones (Charlotte, N.C./South Mecklenburg) also scored two runs each.
Appalachian takes its unblemished record on a grueling five-game road trip beginning Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Presbyterian. Following the contest at PC, ASU travels to Auburn for a 7:30 p.m. matchup on Wednesday, followed by a three-game weekend series at defending Southern Conference Tournament champion Georgia Southern.
Davidson 6, Bryant 2
DAVIDSON, N.C. -- With a 6-2 win over the Bryant Bulldogs Sunday afternoon at Wilson Field, the Davidson Wildcats completed a sweep of the competition for a second straight weekend.
Davidson swept a doubleheader against Bryant and UNC Asheville yesterday, after winning a pair of games against each Mount St. Mary's and Presbyterian last weekend at Wilson Field.
Junior left fielder Sam Payne batted 2-for-4 and drove in a game-high three runs to lead Davidson (9-4) at the plate, and sophomore Chris Lamb (1-0) threw four shutout innings of relief to earn his first win of the season.
Catcher Jeff Vigurs and right fielder Jordan English each had two hits for Bryant (0-6). Salvatore Lisanti (0-1) took the loss for the Bulldogs, after allowing six runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings in the start.
Bryant got a pair of runs on a couple of two-out hits to begin the game. Wildcat starter Ryan Overcash got ground balls from the first two Bulldog batters before dealing a walk to Vigurs. Third baseman Kevin Brown cleared the bases with a home run to right to put Bryant ahead 2-0.
Payne led off the bottom of the inning with a round-tripper to right center field, his second of the season, to cut the lead to one, and junior designated hitter Danny Weiss led off the fourth inning with his first home run of the season to even the score at 2-2.
Lamb took over for Overcash, who allowed just four hits for two runs in four innings, to start the fifth and made quick work of the Bulldogs. Davidson added a run in the bottom of the fifth to take a 3-2 lead as senior catcher Tommy Piacenza doubled down the left field line to start the frame and scored as Payne hit a one-out base hit through the right side.
Lamb got into a bit of a jam in the sixth, loading the bases on two straight base hits and a two-out walk, but worked out of it by getting pinch hitter Mike DelPonte to pop up, and Davidson added three runs in the sixth inning to open up a 6-2 lead. Freshman third baseman Andrew Barna started the two-out rally with a bloop single into left field and took third as freshman right fielder Coleman Barron followed with a double down the left field line. Piacenza walked to load the bases and chase Lisanti, but reliever Brian O'Neil walked in a pair of runs by dealing consecutive free passes to freshman short stop Michael Zeblo and Payne. Nick Laude came out of the bullpen for the Bulldogs, as sophomore second baseman James Cerbie plated Piacenza with a base hit to left to make it 6-2.
Lamb allowed just a bunt single over his final two innings of work, and junior Andy Bass worked a one-hit ninth to preserve the 6-2 win.
Davidson opens Southern Conference play, hosting the Wofford Terriers at Wilson Field March 12-14. First pitch for Friday is set for 7 p.m. The teams will play at 2 p.m. Saturday and conclude the series at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Furman 10, Ohio 7
GREENVILLE, S.C. ? Aaron Thompkins went 2-for-3 with two RBI and scored a pair of runs to lead Furman to a 10-7 win over Ohio Sunday afternoon at Latham Stadium.
The win was the fourth straight for Furman (5-6) and completed the three-game series sweep of Ohio (1-8).
Thompkins reached on an error and scored in a five-run Furman second, delivered a sacrifice RBI in the fifth, and stroked an RBI single in a decisive three-run seventh that saw the Paladins break a 7-7 deadlock en route to the win.
Will Owens capped a torrid series and week by going 3-for-3 and scoring a run. In keying Furman to four wins over the last five days, the Paladin sophomore outfielder batted .786 (11-for-14), with three home runs, 10 RBI, and seven runs scored. He slugged 1.643 during that span, which also included a double, a triple, and a sacrifice fly.
Furman’s bullpen helped overcome shaky starting pitching by allowing only a pair of runs on four hits over the final 5 2/3 innings.
Bobby Lyne (1-0), who came on in the sixth with the Paladins holding a 7-6 lead, gave up a game tying, two-out home run to Ohio’s Seth Streich in the seventh but was the beneficiary of a three-run Furman seventh that saw the Paladins tie the game when Will Miller raced home on a wild pitch. Thompkins broke the tie with a solid single to center field that plated Matt Bona and later scored on a groundout by Rob Fondu.
Nick Karow worked the final 1 2/3 innings, inducing Ohio’s Gauntlett Eldemire into an inning ending double play in the eighth, to earn his second save of the season and 18th of his career.
Furman, which forged an 11-10 advantage in hits, also got two hits from Miller and Will Muzika.
Eldemire paced the Bobcats with a 2-for-4, 3-RBI performance that included a two-run home run in the first inning that gave Ohio an early 2-0 lead.
Kris McDonnough also had two hits and two RBI for Ohio.
Bobcats’ starting pitcher Ryan Bores lasted only 4 1/3 innings and was the victim of poor defense, with only one of the seven runs allowed being earned.
Ben Trimbur (0-1) was charged with the loss after surrendering a run on two hits in 1 2/3 frames.
Furman faces Gardner-Webb on Tuesday in Shelby, N.C., in a 5:00 p.m. game.
Wofford 16, St. Peter’s 6
Spartanburg, S.C. ? The Wofford baseball team completed a two game sweep of St. Peter’s College on Sunday afternoon with a 16-6 victory at Russell C. King Field. The victory improves the Terriers record to 5-6 while St. Peter’s falls to 0-9.
The Terriers were lead by Mac Doyle who had two hits including a grand slam in the eighth inning. St. Peter’s was lead by Justyn Carter with three hits and two RBI’s.
St. Peter’s got on the board first in the second inning when Tom Bouck singled and scored three batters later on a double by Justyn Carter.
After a scoreless third and fourth inning the Terriers got on the board in the fifth inning. David Roney had a leadoff single and scored two batters later on a James Foster RBI double. Matt Moore reached base on a single and scored two batters later on an error.
Wofford broke the game open in the sixth inning combining for six hits and eight runs. Taylor Rozier started things off with a lead off solo home run to left center. The Terriers then loaded the bases on a Landon Bennett walk, David Roney single and Neil Robinette single. Landon Bennett scored on a James Foster walk. David Roney scored on an Alex Lee walk. Mac Doyle cleared the bases with a grand slam home run to left center field. In Taylor Rozier second at bat of the inning he singled and scored one batter later on a Landon Bennett RBI double.
In the seventh inning St. Peters scored three runs on two hits. Conor Mullee, Justyn Carter and Matt Mancini all scored on a Brian Schroeder three RBI double. Wofford kept pace with St. Peter’s and scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh on three hits. Matt Moore started things off with his first collegiate home run to left field. The next batter James Foster reached base on a double and scored one batter later on an Alex Lee RBI single. Alex Lee scored four batters later on a walk by Landon Bennett.
In the eighth inning St. Peters scored two runs on four hits. Michael LaCava reached base on a double and scored three batters later on a Justyn Carter RBI single. John Lynch reached base on a single and scored on an error from second base.
Wofford got the final three runs of the game in the bottom of the eighth inning. Neil Robinette led off the inning and reached base after being hit by a pitch. Robinette moved to third after Matt Moore got on base by an error. Moore and Robinette both scored when Carson Turner reached base on an error. The Terriers got their final run when Carson Turner scored. The bases were loaded when Konstantine Diamaduros walked to score Turner.
Wofford started Gus White lasted five innings giving up seven hits and one run while striking out four. Cash Collins provided 1.2 innings of relief giving up one hit and striking out three. Ryan Traylor got the final out of the seventh inning and gave up one hit and one run. Tom Dolinak pitched one inning of relief giving four hits and two runs with one strikeout. Anthony Rowland finished the game pitching a scoreless ninth inning. St. Peter’s starter Ethan Jackson lasted four innings giving up three hits and one run.
Wofford will be back in action on Wednesday, March 10 when the will take on Duke University at 7:00 at Russell C. King Field.
UNC Greensboro 10, Army 5
GREENSBORO, N.C. ? UNC Greensboro scored three runs in the first inning and never looked back as the Spartans took the final game of the series from Army, 10-5, on Sunday afternoon at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Zach Furl picked up his second win of the year for the Spartans (7-3) after giving up only two hits in relief of starter Blake Hassebrock who pitched the first four innings. Matt Parish pitched the final four outs for his first save of the season.
Army (4-2) starter Joey Henshaw was credited with the loss after allowing six runs, four earned, on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings of work.
Zach Leach went 2-3 at the plate with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored for the Spartans and Corey Overholtzer added three hits in five at-bats along with an RBI and run scored.
The game didn’t start off well though for the Spartans as the Black Knights were the first team to get on the board. Zach Price led off the game with a walk and moved to second on David Darnell’s single through the right side. Price later scored on Henshaw’s single down the right field line to put Army ahead, 1-0.
UNCG battled back in the bottom half of the first as Overholtzer delivered a single with one out. Quinones followed with a single to left center before Ed Jayjack was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Lloyd Enzor was then hit by a pitch as well to score Overholtzer from third. After a fielder’s choice, Cody Walker slapped a single to center field that scored Enzor and Jayjack to give the Spartans a 3-1 lead.
Army battled back in the third inning to knot the game at three when Clint Moore walked and Henshaw and McKague followed with back-to-back singles to score Moore. Henshaw scored later in the inning on a wild pitch to tie the game at 3.
The Spartans refused to quit as Enzor reached on a fielding error with two outs and Leach made the Black Knights pay as he followed with a home run over the wall in left center to give UNCG a 5-3 advantage.
UNCG added an extra run in the bottom of the fourth as Overholtzer hit his fifth double of the year down the right field line to score Kris Richards and make it a 6-3 game.
It appeared as if the Black Knights were putting together a rally in the top of the sixth, but Drew Gehringer threw a rope from right field to nail Shaun Wixted at the plate to end the threat.
The Spartans continued to pour on the offense in the seventh as they added two more runs to take an 8-3 lead. UNCG loaded the bases with no outs after Chris Barker reached on a throwing error sandwiched around walks by Leach and Richards. Eric Brindle followed with a singled to center field to score Leach and Barker.
The Black Knights score two unearned runs in the top of the eighth to pull within 8-5, but that was as close as they would get the rest of the afternoon.
UNCG added two insurance runs in the bottom half of the eighth, highlight by Barker’s RBI triple to left center, to make the final score 10-5.
The Spartans will continue their 14-game homestand on Tuesday as they host Eastern Kentucky at 6 p.m. at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Elon 7, Radford 6
ELON, N.C. -- Trailing 6-5 heading into the bottom of the ninth against the Radford Highlanders, the Elon Phoenix summoned a will to win and rallied for a 7-6 victory in walk-off fashion when Seth Canipe drilled his fourth homer in three games, this one a two-run shot, over the wall in left. The play completed a five-run comeback by Elon which trailed 6-1 after four innings.
It was Elon's first walk-off home run since Adam Weaver's grand slam in the bottom of the ninth earned the program a victory over Kent State on March 19, 2006.
The Highlanders (3-6) got things going in the second, scoring four two-out runs. The inning got started with Alex Guerra reaching on a fielder's choice before Matt Mack's single put two aboard. As Raphael Turner struck out, Guerra and Mack pulled off a double steal. Robert Lamas gave Radford a 2-0 advantage with a single down the left field line that just stayed fair and clipped the bag at third, to score both runners. After Matt Hillsinger followed with a single, Tyren Rivers smacked a single through the right side to drive home Lamas and put runners at the corners as the Highlander lead stretched to 3-0. Hillsinger came home with the fourth run on Brett Mollenhauer's infield single.
In its half of the second, the Phoenix (7-4) trimmed its deficit to three runs. Matt Hinson reached on a fielder's choice before Canipe's infield single put two on base. Ryan Adams drove home Hinson with a double to left-center to put Elon on the board. Elon was unable to gain any more ground though as Justin Hilt fouled out and Scott Riddle grounded out to end the frame.
With two outs in the Radford fourth, Mollenhauer reached on an Elon error and then scored on Reggie Keen's double to left-center. Jeff Kemp then plated Keen with a single to left as the Highlander lead reached 6-1.
Elon had runners on the corners with one out in the bottom of the fifth when Mike Melillo laced a single to right to drive home the second Phoenix run in the form of Riddle. The hit also sent Alex Swim to second. Once again, the Phoenix could not get another run in as Neal Pritchard and Hinson each flew out.
The Phoenix seventh started with a single from Swim and a RBI triple into the right field corner off the bat of Melillo as Elon closed the gap to 6-3. Melillo would then score on Pritchard's sacrifice fly to right. Canipe kept things going with a two-out single and then went to second on a passed ball before scoring on an Adams single as the Phoenix clawed within a run at 6-5.
Riddle led off the Elon eighth with an infield single. Harry Austin's sacrifice bunt sent pinch-runner David Wood to second. Wood went to third on a wild pitch, but the Phoenix could not get him in as Abram Williams struck out Melillo to end the inning.
Pritchard began the bottom of the ninth with a single before pinch-runner Matt Kirchner headed to second on a sac bunt from Hinson. Canipe then unloaded his fourth home run in three games and team-leading sixth of the season to give Elon the victory.
Elon closer Thomas Girdwood (1-0) earned his first victory since May 13, 2008 after throwing a shutout inning. John Brebbia was stellar in relief of starter Daniel Britt. Brebbia threw four shutout innings and scattered three hits. He did not walk a batter and struck out three.
Radford closer Jason Patten (0-1) took the loss after giving up two runs on two hits in just one-third of an inning. Highlander starter Bobby Bolling left with a 6-2 lead after hurling 5.1 innings. Bolling allowed seven hits and walked one.
Canipe finished the day 4-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Adams tied his career-high with three hits while Riddle's three-hit outing was the first of his career.
Five different Radford players notched two hits, among them Lamas who also drove in two and scored once.
Elon will return to action on Wednesday when the Phoenix plays host to Old Dominion in a 4 p.m. game.
Evansville 8, Samford 4
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.?The Samford baseball team dropped an 8-4 decision to the Evansville Purple Aces Sunday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field.
With the loss, Samford drops to 7-5 so far this season, while Evansville improves to 3-8. Samford won the series with Evansville, two games to one.
In Sunday’s loss, Samford was led at the plate by Mason Meredeth, going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Gardner Richey hit a home run in a 1-for-3 performance. Josh Martin pitched 6.0 innings, giving up five runs on six hits while striking out six batters to take the loss on the mound.
For Evansville, Cody Fick was 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI. Alex Acheson was 2-for-4 at the plate for Evansville. Greg Wallace, Trentt Copeland and Ryan Oesterle all homered for the Purple Aces.
Evansville’s Seth McCabe pitched 1.1 innings in relief to earn the win. Corey Davisson got the final two outs to earn the save for Evansville.
Samford jumped on top first with two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Michael Johnson hit a sacrifice fly to left field to drive in Richey for the game’s first run. Alvin Hines II later scored from third base when Wayne Miller reached base on an infield single for a 2-0 Samford lead.
Evansville answered with three runs in the top of the third inning to take a 3-2 lead. Fick singled to drive in Eric Stamets for the Purple Aces’ first run of the game. Wallace then hit a two-run home run to give Evansville the lead.
Samford tied the score with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Richey led the inning off with a home run to make the score 3-3.
Evansville took the lead again with a run in the top of the fifth inning. Oesterle hit a lead-off home run to left field for a 4-3 Evansville lead.
Samford answered again with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning to tie the score at 4-4. Meredeth singled to right field to drive in Stephen Ballard for the game-tying run.
Evansville took control of the game for good with a run in the sixth inning and three more in the seventh to make the final score 8-4. Ty Legan hit a sacrifice fly to left field to drive in John Day for the eventual game-winning run. In the seventh inning, Fick hit a two-run home run and Copeland hit a solo homer for the three final runs of the game.
Samford will play two midweek games this week. The Bulldogs will play host to the Michigan State Spartans on Tuesday, Mar. 9, at 6 p.m. On Wednesday, Samford will travel to in-state rival Jacksonville State, also at 6 p.m.
No. 14 East Carolina 5, Western Carolina 4
Greenville, N.C. ? Western Carolina made a ninth-inning rally, but fell short as the Catamounts lost to No. 14/21 East Carolina, 5-4, in tight contest on Sunday in the Keith LeClair Classic.
WCU (8-2) held a one run lead for four innings before the Pirates (7-3) hit a pair of back-to-back home runs to take the lead. Western Carolina narrowed a three-run deficit to just one run with a man in scoring position in the top of the ninth. However, the Catamounts fell short as ECU forced a fly out to right field to end the contest.
Freshman Tyler White led WCU with a 3-for-4 afternoon. The first baseman from Forest City, N.C., laced a single in the infield, in the third inning, to give the Catamounts the go-ahead lead at 2-1. White has a nine-game hit streak. Also, the rook has recorded three hits or more in 10 contests this season.
Senior Dylan de Graaf played a pivotal role in the lead-off spot with a 2-for-5 afternoon and tallying a run. de Graaf scored the first run for the Catamounts in the contest after reaching on base with a single.
Tyler Kirkpatrick extended his hit streak to ten games with a single in the seventh. The senior infielder managed a 1-for-3 night with a walk. Austin Schultz and Cory Cronan also got on board with doubles in the game.
Left-hander Vance Chavis (2-1, 2.91 ERA) took the loss after a solid outing. Chavis gave up just two earned runs on three hits with five strikeouts in six and two-thirds innings pitched.
Reliever Andrew Chilcoat allowed the leadoff runner on board in the eighth, before Mat Batts entered the contest. After a wild pitch, ECU extended their lead to 4-2. Brandon Johnson gave up home run later in the inning as ECU jumped ahead, 5-2.
Western Carolina battled in the ninth as Radley Haddad and Kirkpatrick both walked to begin the inning. Cronan’s critical double to right allowed Haddad to score. Trevor Collias would record a sac fly to drive in Kirkpatrick and move the tying run to third. ECU closer Seth Simmons ended the threat by forcing de Graaf to fly out to right field.
ECU’s Seth Maness (1-2) took home his first win of the year, giving up just two earned runs on eight hits in seven and a third innings tossed. Simmons earned his third save after conceding two runs on two hits in an inning and two-thirds.
The Catamounts wrapped up a successful weekend after defeating two power-six programs in West Virginia and Illinois to place second in the round robin event. Western Carolina returns to the friendly confines of Childress Field / Hennon Stadium on Tuesday and Wednesday as they host Southern Illinois ? Edwardsville. Both games are scheduled for a 4:00 p.m. first pitch.
Marshall 8, Georgia Southern 0
STATESBORO, GA - Marshall’s Mike Mason and two relievers combined on a seven-hit shutout as the Thundering Herd beat Georgia Southern 8-0 on Sunday (March 7) at J.I. Clements Stadium.
Victor Gomez and Rhett Stafford homered for Marshall (5-5), which collected 14 hits off of four Eagle pitchers.
Georgia Southern (5-7) drew six walks to go with six singles and a double, but the Eagles were 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left 13 men on base.
Mason (2-0) pitched 6.2 innings for the win. He gave up six hits with nine strikeouts and two walks before yielding to Tyler Gatrell and Austin Coan, who combined for four strikeouts in the last 2.1 innings.
Eagle starter Trent Franzago (1-1), a native of Byron, Ga., was charged with the loss. He allowed four runs (one earned) on eight hits with two strikeouts and one walk in four innings.
A crowd of 1,416 watched as the Thundering Herd salvaged the finale of the three-game series. They grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the third on a two-out double by Josh Valle.
In the bottom of the inning, Georgia Southern loaded the bases with one out, but Mason escaped the jam with a strikeout and a line drive to the right fielder.
Marshall took advantage of a passed ball on a strikeout to score three unearned runs in the fourth. Kris Hecktor had a two-run double and Valle added an RBI single as the Thundering Herd increased their lead to 4-0.
Relievers Andy Moye (Alpharetta, Ga.), Dexter Bobo (Cumming, Ga.) and Charles Matthews (Athens, Ga.) finished the game for the Eagles.
Stafford had a solo home in the sixth and Nathan Gomez had a sacrifice fly in the eighth to put Marshall up 6-0. A two-run homer by Victor Gomez with two out in the ninth made it 8-0.
Shawn Payne (Stone Mountain, Ga.) went 2-for-5 to lead Georgia Southern. For the Thundering Herd, Valle and Kurt Lipton were both 3-for-5, Victor Gomez and Alfredo Brito were both 2-for-4, and Isaac Ballou was 2-for-5.
The Eagles will visit Charleston Southern for a single game on Wednesday (March 10) at 2 p.m. They will return on home Friday (March 12) to open Southern Conference play with a three-game series against Appalachian State.