Saturday, March 19, 2005

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Mar. 19, 2005) - Georgia Southern starter Dustin Evans pitched a complete-game seven-hitter and the Eagles scored three late runs en route to a 5-1 victory Saturday over East Tennessee State Saturday afternoon from Cardinal Park in Johnson City, Tenn.

            With the win, the Eagles stay perfect at 5-0 in Southern Conference game and are 12-7 overall. The Bucs fall to 11-4, 2-3 in SoCon games.

            Georgia Southern took the lead with two unearned runs in the top of the third. With one out, James Payne hit a single to right, and advanced to second as Logan Phillips reached on an error. Jason Hurst brought Payne home with a double to left-center while Philips scored on a ground out by Brent Stephens.

            The Bucs scored their run in the bottom of the third. With one down, senior second baseman Nick Crowe (Johnson City, Tenn.) struck out, but reached first on a wild pitch. He then stole second and scored as junior right fielder Shane Byrne (Johnson City, Tenn.) hit an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error.

            The Eagles put the game away with three runs in the top of the seventh. With two outs, Brent Stephens walked and would score on a triple to center by Brett Pelphrey. Derrick Smith then followed with a towering two-run homer over the right field wall.

            Evans (3-3) was dominant Saturday afternoon, allowing just seven singles in the win. He tied his career-high with eight strikeouts and walked just one Buccaneer batter.

            ETSU junior lefty Brian Lovett (Knoxville, Tenn.) pitched well but was charged with the loss (2-1). He allowed three earned runs on seven hits and walked three in 6.2 innings pitched. A pair of freshmen, lefty Joey McCown (Knoxville, Tenn.) and righty Jonathan Stoudt (Marietta, Ga.) pitched well in relief for the Bucs, allowing no hits in 2.1 combined innings of work.

            Byrne and sophomore right fielder Stephen Douglas (Kennesaw, Ga.) led the Bucs at the plate, both going 2-for-4. With the two hits, Douglas extended his hitting streak to 11 games.

            Hurst and Pelphrey led the Eagles with two hits while Smith had a game-high two RBIs.

            "We have not been very opportunistic offensively in this series," said ETSU head coach Tony Skole following the game. "Georgia Southern has gotten big hits and they have also made big plays in the field."