March 31, 2001
GEORGIA SOUTHERN SWEEPS FURMAN IN DOUBLEHEADER
STATESBORO, Ga. Georgia Southern used two late-inning rallies to claim 9-6 and 9-8 victories over Furman in a Southern Conference doubleheader played at J.I. Clements Stadium Saturday.
In the first game of the day, the Paladins (17-13, 7-6) jumped out to an early lead by scoring three runs off Eagle starter Brett Lewis (4-2) in the second inning. Ryan Presnell opened the inning by walking and stealing second and third base. Danny Rueckel then collected a one-out single to plate the first run of the game. After Brandon Barrett doubled to put men on second and third, Justin Maderer collected a base hit to centerfield to score both Rueckel and Barrett.
The Furman lead eventually grew to 5-1 before the Eagles (19-10, 8-6) scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth to claim a 6-5 advantage and a lead it would not relinquish. Jemel Spearman opened the inning with a single and then moved to second when Matt Herring reached on an error by Rueckel. Love followed with a two-out double to left center to score both Herring and Spearman. Chad Hall then walked and Rocky Baker singled and advanced to second on a fielding error by Paladin centerfielder Clint Hill, scoring Love. J.R. Revere followed with a single off Furman starter Tom Mastny (4-3) to plate both Hall and Baker.
Georgia Southern added a single run in the seventh and two more in the eighth on Scott Henley's eighth home run of the season to push its lead to 9-5. Furman attempted a final comeback in the ninth but Eagle reliever Scott Tolbert induced two ground ball outs and struck out Rueckel to end the game and earn his first collegiate save.
In the second game, the Paladins jumped out to a 4-0 lead and increased its advantage to 8-4 heading to the bottom of the eighth inning before Georgia Southern mounted its comeback. Chris Walker was hit by a pitch to open the frame and then advanced to third on a single by Spearman. Henley followed by slamming a three-run home run to right centerfield to cut the deficit to 8-7.
After Jared Comstock (4-2) retired Furman in order in the top of the ninth inning, Paladin closer Rueckel (2-2) opened the bottom of the frame by striking out Hall and Baker before Revere walked and stole second. Pinch hitter Darryl Stephens appeared to strike out to end the game but reached first base when Rueckel's wild pitch got away from Paladin catcher Maderer. Spearman followed with a single to score Revere and tie the contest before Maderer was charged with a passed ball on Rueckel's first pitch to Henley, allowing Stephens to score the game winner.
The pair of blasts by Henley marked the sixth and seventh consecutive games in which he has hit a home run just one shy of the NCAA Division I record last accomplished by Duke's Ryan Jackson in 1994.
The two teams conclude the three-game series Sunday at Clements Stadium in a game beginning at 1:30 p.m.