By: KSU Sports Information
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. – Georgia Southern leadoff hitter Shawn Payne hit for the cycle and the Eagles launched three home runs as they defeated Kennesaw State, 11-7, on Wednesday night at Stillwell Stadium.
The Owls (24-20) trailed by six runs headed into the bottom of the ninth inning before they rallied to load the bases with one out. Sean McClurken, who extended his hitting streak to eight games with a three-hit night, doubled down the right field line to bring Kennesaw State within four runs.
Mike Murray, the tenth pitcher of the night used by Georgia Southern, struck out Ethan Herron and got Bucky Smith to fly to center field as the Eagles (25-16) swept the two-game, season series from the Owls.
Kennesaw State twice came within two runs of the Eagles as they trailed 3-1 after three innings, and 5-3 after the teams exchanged two run frames in the fourth inning. However, Georgia Southern systematically grew their lead to 10-3 as the teams headed into the bottom of the seventh inning.
Peyton Hart led the Owls attack with four hits while McClurken drove in a season-high four runs and scored twice. Ronnie Freeman reached base five times with a double, single and three walks as the Owls pounded out 10 hits.
Sean Fream (1-4) started and suffered his fourth loss of the season as he lasted just two and one-third innings. The right-hander cruised through the first two frames before running into trouble in the third. The junior allowed three runs on just two hits, but walked four batters before giving way to Steven Janas, who pitched solidly for the next three and one-third innings.
Six pitchers threw for the Owls as Caden Ferguson, Jeff Brown, Alan Busenitz and Jordan Dean combined to throw the final three innings. Will Middour (3-1), who started and pitched two scoreless innings, picked up the win and led a slew of Georgia Southern hurlers. Nine relievers pitched the final seven innings to close out the win.
Payne’s cycle came after he homered in the fourth inning, tripled in the sixth, singled in the seventh and finished his historic night with a double in the ninth. Eric Phillips added three hits as five Georgia Southern players had multi-hit games, including Steve Cochrane, Victor Roache and Tom Richardson who each had two hits with Cochrane and Roache hitting home runs.
The Owls will return to action on Friday, May 6 at 6 p.m. when they begin a three-game Atlantic Sun Conference series against the USC Upstate Spartans.
