CHARLESTON, S.C. — One of the rarest plays in baseball ended Georgia Southern’s season on Friday afternoon in the Southern Conference Tournament.
Facing the bases loaded and no one out in the ninth inning, trying to rally from 8-6 deficit to North Carolina-Greensboro, the Spartans turned the triple play and advanced in the tournament.
The Eagles end the season 34-28 overall..
Griffin Benedict, the hero in Thursday’s win over Western Carolina, started the ninthwith a walk. That was his fourth walk in the game, tying school and conference single-game record.
Will Southwell singled up the middle. That brought in relief pitcher Alex Shelton for UNCG.
He hit A.J. Wirnsberger, who was squaring around to bunt, to load the bases.
Pinch-hitter Justin Klinger, who was hitting .450 against left-handed pitching, hit a popup on the grass. Second baseman Tim Carrier made the catch, touched second base for the second out and threw over to first baseman Ricky Orton to end the game.
Georgia Southern struck first quickly. Chris Shehan led off the game with a single through the left side. Mike Economos followed with an opposite field home run on a 2-2 pitch, his 10th homer on the season, for a 2-0 lead.
UNC Greensboro threatened in the first. Matt Gaski drew a one-out walk and stole second when Brian Wilkerson struck out Guy Welsh. Orton drove a ball to deep centerfield but Matt Miller raced back and made the catch at the fence to end the inning.
Southwell singled to start the second inning. He advanced to second base on a groundout. Shehan lined a two-out RBI single, scoring Southwell for a 3-0 lead.
Miller hit his second home run in as many games, a solo shot to start the third. That extended the lead to 4-0. The Eagles threatened for more. Jeremiah Parker ripped a double to center, chasing Spartans starter Rob Gilliam.
Brandon Harvey walked Benedict and hit Southwell to load the bases. However, Wirnsberger hit a soft grounder which UNCG was able to turn a quick inning-ending double play.
Facing the bases loaded and no one out in the ninth inning, trying to rally from 8-6 deficit to North Carolina-Greensboro, the Spartans turned the triple play and advanced in the tournament.
The Eagles end the season 34-28 overall..
Griffin Benedict, the hero in Thursday’s win over Western Carolina, started the ninthwith a walk. That was his fourth walk in the game, tying school and conference single-game record.
Will Southwell singled up the middle. That brought in relief pitcher Alex Shelton for UNCG.
He hit A.J. Wirnsberger, who was squaring around to bunt, to load the bases.
Pinch-hitter Justin Klinger, who was hitting .450 against left-handed pitching, hit a popup on the grass. Second baseman Tim Carrier made the catch, touched second base for the second out and threw over to first baseman Ricky Orton to end the game.
Georgia Southern struck first quickly. Chris Shehan led off the game with a single through the left side. Mike Economos followed with an opposite field home run on a 2-2 pitch, his 10th homer on the season, for a 2-0 lead.
UNC Greensboro threatened in the first. Matt Gaski drew a one-out walk and stole second when Brian Wilkerson struck out Guy Welsh. Orton drove a ball to deep centerfield but Matt Miller raced back and made the catch at the fence to end the inning.
Southwell singled to start the second inning. He advanced to second base on a groundout. Shehan lined a two-out RBI single, scoring Southwell for a 3-0 lead.
Miller hit his second home run in as many games, a solo shot to start the third. That extended the lead to 4-0. The Eagles threatened for more. Jeremiah Parker ripped a double to center, chasing Spartans starter Rob Gilliam.
Brandon Harvey walked Benedict and hit Southwell to load the bases. However, Wirnsberger hit a soft grounder which UNCG was able to turn a quick inning-ending double play.