STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern won the first game of the highly anticipated SoCon series in a pitcher's duel, 4-2.
GSU starter Chris Beck (3-2) recorded a career-high 16 strikeouts in just six innings pitched. That mark was the most punch outs by any pitcher in the SoCon this year.
Outside of a troublesome first inning, CofC starter Josh Renfro (4-2) was impressive in his own right. The lefty struck out seven batters and only walked one as he didn't allow a run after the first inning. Nick Osterman gave up one run as he pitched the seventh and eighth innings and struck out three.
The loss snapped College of Charleston's (20-7, 10-3) nine-game SoCon winning streak, while Georgia Southern improved to 13-14 on the season and 4-6 in league play.
Offensively, the Eagles were led by hot hitter Eric Phillips who went 3-for-3 with a run and an RBI.
College of Charleston was led by Bradley Goodson and Brandon Murray at the plate. Goodson tripled off of Beck in the first and hit a double in the third inning. Murray hit a solo home run, his team-best eighth of the season. Marty Gantt's 10-game hitting streak and 23-game reached base streak ended after he failed to reach base.
Georgia Southern started the game hot, tallying three singles and a double from Phillips to build a 3-0 lead in the first inning. However, Renfro struck out two batters including one with the bases loaded to get out of the inning with no further damage.
College of Charleston got one run back in the fourth inning when Rob Harding earned a two-out walk. Cody Martin and Gunnar Heidt both singled to right to score Harding and CofC made the margin just 3-1.
The Cougars pulled even closer in the fifth inning when Murray hit his eighth home run of the season, a solo shot to center field that hit the batter's eye and brought the score to 3-2. However, Beck recorded two more strikeouts and stranded Aldrich in scoring position who had singled and swiped second base.
The Eagles added to the lead in the bottom of the seventh by loading the bases on Nick Osterman with none out. Although Osterman induced a double play and finished the inning with a strikeout, the Eagles scored a run to push the lead to 4-2.
The series will continue with a 2:30 p.m. start tomorrow afternoon as CofC's Christian Powell battles GSU's Justin Hess.
