Georgia Southern Shutout Troy in Semifinal Game

Saturday, May 28

Montgomery, Ala.

3 p.m.

Troy University

32-24

Georgia Southern

40-17

Georgia Southern

Troy

Photo by: AJ Henderson / Sun Belt Conferen

Georgia Southern Shutout Troy in Semifinal Game

5/28/2022 7:55:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Troy Athletics Communications

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – A one-run ball game in the eighth inning turned into a five-run advantage for the Georgia Southern Eagles after the Eagles plated four runs in the frame, as they went on to beat Troy 8-0 in the Sun Belt Conference tournament semifinals Saturday afternoon from Riverwalk Stadium.

The Trojans saw their first shutout since April 3, 2021. With the loss, Troy finishes the 2022 season 32-24.

In a tie-ball game through the fifth, the Trojans had plenty of opportunities to get ahead and build a lead as they had at least one base runner through six innings. However, nine men were left on base, as Troy never found the big hit.

Jesse Hall recorded his 12^th multi-hit game of the season, but a William Sullivan double was the only extra-base hit the Trojan offense could manage.

Trojan starter Garrett Gainous (5-4) did all he could to stifle the Eagles in the loss as he was taken out after 4.2 innings pitched, allowing four hits, one walk, and five strikeouts, allowing one unearned run.

Starting Eagle pitcher Hayden Harris despite giving up five hits, walked one and had five strikeouts to keep the Trojans scoreless.

Ben Johnson (5-3) earned the win going 5.1 innings pitched, facing 21 batters and continuing the shutout by holding Troy to only three hits.

Troy looked to get on the board first as they had back-to-back singles to start the inning. With nobody out, Troy went down in order as Harris struck out the side to get out of the jam.

William Sullivan started the fourth will a double, and a single from Stearns put two runners on with nobody out. However, it was all quickly erased by a 104-mph line drive off the bat of Easton Kirk as it was hit straight at the second baseman, who caught it and doubled off Sullivan.

In a 0-0 game, the unearned came with runners on first and third, and two outs as freshman Grayson Stewart made his second consecutive appearance out of the bullpen. Stewart got what looked like an inning-ending ground ball, but the shortstop Hall mishandled it to score the Eagle's first run.

That seemed to be the momentum needed for Georgia State as they wouldn't trail in the ball game. However, Stewart's day was done in the sixth after going an inning, and he made way for Marquez Oates, also seeing action on his second consecutive day. Oates was also brought in with runners on base, easily keeping it a 1-0 ball game with a strikeout.

In the eighth, the Eagles eventually got to Oates with four runs to stretch the lead. The game was put out of reach in the ninth as three more runs crossed home plate giving Georgia Southern an 8-0 lead where the game would finish.

Troy tried to break up the shutout in the bottom of the ninth as they loaded the bases seeing their first base runner reach third, but the Eagles had held them scoreless to finish the game.