STATESBORO, Ga. - Freshman Justin Hess threw seven complete innings, allowing only two runs, to pick up his first collegiate win with a 5-3 victory over Alcorn State Monday afternoon (May 10) at J.I. Clements Stadium. With the series sweep, Georgia Southern improved to 29-19 overall, while Alcorn State dropped to 23-24.
For the third consecutive game, Alcorn State took an early lead, but Georgia Southern battled back to take the final advantage.
The non-conference foes traded runs in the third inning with Kyle Blackburn (Marietta, Ga.) knotting the score at 1-all with a double to left scoring Shawn Payne (Stone Mountain, Ga.). Before the home half, Cedric Perdomo's double to right center allowed Kenny Rowan to score after reaching on a free pass.
With two outs in the fifth, the Braves loaded the bases using three singles, but starter Hess (Panama City, Fla.) worked out of the jam with a fly out to left field. The Eagles took their first lead in the home half of the frame using a walk and double to left from Payne. A pair of sacrifice flies handed GS a two run advantage, 3-1, off the bats of Kevin Bowles (Statesboro, Ga.) and Blackburn.
After a scoreless sixth, Alcorn State manufactured a run in the seventh on an RBI groundout. But a two-run double to the left field corner from Eric Phillips (Carrollton, Ga.) in the home half of the inning gave the Eagles a couple insurance runs as GS took a 5-2 lead.
Marking the final offensive output from either team, the Braves cut their deficit putting up a run in the eighth inning. Two singles were bookended with two fly outs before a blooper to right center from Cole Vicars scored Alcorn State's third run, 5-3. Dexter Bobo (Cumming, Ga.) entered in mid-eighth to close out the contest and worked out of a bases loaded situation to prevent further damage.
Bobo gave up a double in the ninth, but the runner never reached third base as Georgia Southern finalized the 5-3 win on three fly outs.
Payne finished the contest 2-for-3 with three runs scored, while Victor Roache (Ypsilanti, Mich.) went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles. Payne collected three stolen bags in the final game to finish with six for the series.
Hess drew the win (1-1) allowing six hits and two runs in seven innings with four strikeouts. Bobo picked up the save for his ninth on the season. Brave starter Cedric Pomerlee was charged with the loss after going 6.1 innings allowing five runs on seven hits.
Both Kilby Perdomo and Rodney Warren went 2-for-5 for the Braves, who outhit the Eagles 10-8.
Facing a quick turnaround, the Eagles return to J.I. Clements Stadium on Tuesday, May 10 to face Charleston Southern in a 6 p.m. matchup.
