After a lot of Hours on the Road, First Stop of Spring Break Roadtrip Completed

Our weekend series against Georgia Southern University has come to a close. After losing the first game and then taking the next two, my lasting impression of Statesboro, Ga. is the obnoxious (and slightly inbred) fans of the Eagles baseball team. The drunkest and most ignorant sat behind our dugout and heckled the players in heavy southern accents. Some heckles were amusing (I chuckled when Kyle Hansen was told to take off his goofy glasses because "THIS IS AMERICA"), but others deserved an ass-kicking. Some fans did their research and found out the names of the players' family members. When those players came to bat, the drunken rednecks screamed at the top of their lungs that they hoped their mother, or sister, or father, ect, dies a painful death. Now I haven't reffered to these fans as dumb because they were able to find out the names of the players' parents, so clearly they've learned how to browse the internet when they're not watching "Cops" or counting down the days to deer-hunting season. Eventually, the guys fed off of the taunts and effectively shut up the screaming hicks. After hitting a bomb over the field wall, Paul Karmas put his finger to his mouth after crossing home plate, 'shushing' the home crowd. Hansen did the same thing when he was walking off the mound after pitching 5.1 solid innings on Saturday.

But back to baseball, we lost a close game to the Eagles on Friday, but the bats came alive for 14 runs on Saturday and seven runs on Sunday. You can never be upset with winning two games in a three-game set. Below are my recaps of all three games, some baseball-related pics, and some pics of us being "unprofessional". Next up on our Spring Break tour are two weekday games, one against UNC-Greensboro and the other against North Carolina, and a weekend series against Gardner-Webb.

Late Push against St. John’s gives Georgia Southern Victory in Series Opener, 4-3

Red Storm score three runs in first three innings, but are held scoreless for the rest of game

            STATESBORO, Ga. – After the lead changed hands three times in the first three innings, Georgia Southern was able to even the score in the fifth, and then pull ahead of St. John’s in seventh. Five Red Storm hitters combined for just five hits as they stranded eight base runners in their loss to Georgia Southern. Sean O’Hare, the team leader in batting average, was 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI. Jimmy Brennan managed to reach base three times, going 1-for-3 with two walks and a run scored. Opening day starter, Sean Hagan, took the hill for St. John’s (3-4), pitching 4.1 innings and yielding three runs, but did not factor into the decision. Stephen Rivera (1-1) came on in relief, striking out five in 2.1 innings, but gave up both the tying run and the go-ahead run to Eagles and was tagged with the loss. Michael Burruss was 4-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored for Georgia Southern (7-3). Starter Chris Beck lasted just 4.0 innings, giving up three runs, but relief pitcher Matt Murray (2-0) earned the win for the Eagles by striking out five in 5.0 shutout innings.

           

            St. John’s scored the first run of the game on a base hit and three walks. After Pat Talbut singled and stole second, Joe Panik and Paul Karmas followed up with back-to-back walks. With the bases loaded, O’Hare drew a walk to give St. John’s a 1-0 lead.

            Georgia Southern, however, answered right back with a run of their own to even the score. A leadoff triple by Shawn Payne and a single by Burruss gave the Eagles their first run of the game with no outs and the heart of their lineup coming up to bat. But Hagan induced two consecutive groundballs, the first for a double play, to end the threat.

            The Eagles pulled ahead in the bottom of the second after Andy Moye singled and came around to score on a double by Ben Morgan.

           

            The lead exchanged hands once more in the top of the third. Brennan walked to lead off the inning, promptly stole second, and tagged up on a fly ball to reach third. Panik’s groundball to the right side of the infield plated Brennan, tying the game at 2-2. The Red Storm then took advantage of three errors by the Eagles, the first one coming on a throwing error by the shortstop allowing Karmas to reach first base. The following batter, O’Hare, reached base safely on a fielding error by the second baseman, giving the Red Storm runners on first and third. A throwing error by the pitcher on a failed pickoff attempt of O’Hare scored Karmas, giving St. John’s a 3-2 lead without recording a hit in the inning.

            Georgia Southern tied the game again in the fifth inning with another extra base hit by Shawn Payne and a single by Burruss. With Eagles on first and third with one out, Rivera came on in relief for Hagan. Rivera struck out the first batter he faced, but allowed an RBI-single to Victor Roache to bring the score to 3-3.

           

            After stranding two runners in the top of the seventh, St. John’s allowed Georgia Southern to score the go-ahead run in the bottom of the frame. Burress doubled for his fourth hit of the game and Eric Phillips followed suit with a double of his own to drive him in, giving the Eagles a 4-3 lead. After striking out Roache and intentionally walking Steve Cochrane, Rivera was lifted in favor of Matt Carasiti. With runners on first and second, Carasiti walked Tom Richardson, but induced a fly out to limit the damage.

            O’Hare led off the eighth inning with a single and stole second, but was left stranded.

            Carasiti sat the Eagles down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the frame by using two strikeouts to keep the Eagles lead at one run.

            Pinch hitter, Kyle Richardson, popped out to begin the ninth, but Murray walked Brennan on four pitches to put the tying-runner on base. However, Brennan was thrown out attempting to steal second during Talbut’s at bat. Talbut then struck out looking to end the game.

            St. John’s takes on Georgia Southern in the second game of their series on March 5 at 2:30 p.m.

Geogia Southern's lovely, lovely field. If only their fans could be so nice.

Offense Powers St. John’s to Victory over Georgia Southern, 14-3

Red Storm lineup produces two five-run innings and 19 total hits 

STATESBORO, Ga. – What appeared to be a pitching duel through three innings, turned into a slugfest for St. John’s when they broke the game open with a five run fourth inning. Just three innings later, the Red Storm had plated a total of 14 runs on two home runs and three doubles. Paul Karmas had both a double and a home run in a 4-for-5, four RBI effort. Pat Talbut hit the other long-ball for St. John’s (4-4), his first in his collegiate career. Just falling shy of six hits, Joe Panik doubled, scored four runs, and drove in one in a 5-for-6 effort. Jeremy Baltz drove in two and Matt Wessinger contributed three to add to the Red Storm’s big middle innings. Kyle Hansen (1-1) made the start for St. John’s, tossing 5.1 innings and giving up just one earned run on three hits and four walks on his way to a win. Eagles starter, Josh Adams (2-1), was saddled with the loss, giving up five runs on nine hits in 4.0 innings of work. Eric Phillips drove in a run and reached base four times on two walks and two singles for Georgia Southern (7-4).

The Red Storm strung a couple hits together in the first inning, but was unable to plate a run. Jimmy Brennan singled to lead off the game, but was taken off the base paths when Talbut hit into a fielder’s choice. Talbut was able to move over to third on Panik’s line drive down the left field line, but Panik was thrown out at second trying to stretch his base hit into a double. Talbut was stranded at third when a fly out ended the threat.

            Adams turned in two consecutive 1-2-3 innings before St. John’s tagged him for five runs in the fourth inning. Batting around in the inning, the Red Storm offense strung seven-consecutive hits together with one out, beginning with a single up the middle by Panik. Karmas then singled to put Panik in scoring position and a single by O’Hare plated him. A double by Baltz cleared the bases and put St. John’s up 3-0. After Baltz advanced to third on a wild pitch, Wessinger drove him in on a single through the left side of the infield. A well-executed hit-and-run advanced Wessinger to third base on Kyle Richardson’s single to left field. The chain of hits finished with a single by Witkowski to drive in Wessinger.

After walking a batter with two outs in the first inning, Hansen retired seven-straight, no-hitting the Eagles until the bottom of the fourth when Michael Burress led off with a single. With one out, Georgia Southern loaded the bases on an error and a walk. Tony Richardson’s single put the Eagles on the board, but the Eagles were retired before scoring any more runs.

            Karmas’ double in the fifth inning drove in Panik, giving the Red Storm a five run lead.

            The Eagles responded in bottom of the frame, however, by drawing two walks and scoring on a passed ball.

            St. John’s then put themselves up by nine with another five-run inning in the top of the sixth. With runners on the corners, Panik singled to pick up the first RBI of the inning. Karmas then followed up with a single of his own to put the Red Storm up by six runs. After a pitching change, O’Hare moved Karmas and Panik over to second and third on a ground out to the right side of the infield. Following Baltz’s intentional walk to load the bases, Wessinger brought everyone home on a single that was misplayed by the left fielder, bringing the score to 11-2.

            Hansen retired the first Eagle in the bottom of the frame, but with a left-handed hitter coming up to bat, he was lifted in favor of lefthander Kevin Kilpatrick. After plunking his first batter, Kilpatrick induced a groundout and a fly out to end the inning.

            St. John’s increased their lead to double digits in the seventh inning with the long ball. With two outs, Talbut homered to left field to put the Red Storm up by ten runs. A double by Panik and a home run by Karmas brought the St. John’s lead to 14-2.

            Georgia Southern managed to score a run off of Kilpatrick in the bottom of the frame when the leadoff man reached base on a dropped third strike and a couple of singles brought him in.

            Anthony Cervone pitched a scoreless frame in bottom of the ninth to even the weekend series.

            St. John’s takes on Georgia Southern in the series finale on Mar 6 at 1:30 pm.

Sean Hagan feeding freshman Rowan Wick a chewy granola bar while he slumbers on the bus.

St. John’s Wins Series Finale against Georgia Southern, 7-3



Brendan Lobban yields just one earned run in 6.1 innings, walks none.

            STATESBORO, Ga. – St. John’s starting pitcher, Brendan Lobban, shut out Georgia Southern through the first five innings while the offense scattered three runs over the first three to win the weekend series. The run scored against Lobban in the sixth inning was his only earned run in 6.1 innings of work. Lobban (2-0) also struck out three, yielded six hits, and walked none. Joe Panik reached base four times, going 2-for-2 with two walks, two RBI, and three runs scored. Paul Karmas went 2-for-4 with a double and also drove in a run. Sean O’Hare contributed two RBI and Joe Witkowski plated a run as well for St. John’s (5-4). The Red Storm offense knocked the Eagles starting pitcher out after just 4.0 innings for the second consecutive game. Andy Moye gave up three earned runs on six hits and three walks in his 4.0 innings of work, taking the loss for Georgia Southern (7-5). Steve Cochrane went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and two RBI.

            With two outs in the first inning, Panik walked, stole second, and came around to score on a single by Karmas.

            Georgia Southern put two men in scoring position in bottom of the frame, but Lobban induced an inning-ending fly ball to put the threat to rest.

            After Wessinger ripped a one-out double to right center field in the second inning, he was brought around to score with a single by Witkowski.

            Lobban retired the Eagles in order to preserve a 2-0 St. John’s lead going into the third inning.

            The Red Storm utilized another double to push across their third run in the third inning. With Panik on first base, Karmas doubled to deep center field, putting both men in scoring position. O’Hare’s ground ball to first base scored Panik, putting St. John’s up 3-0.

            Lobban retired nine straight Eagles to keep them off the board until the sixth inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Lobban induced a fly ball from Cochrane for the second out, but the fly ball scored Michael Burress for Georgia Southern’s first run of the game. Lobban escaped further damage by inducing another fly ball to end the inning.

            Following three innings of dormancy, the St. John’s bats came alive for two runs in the seventh inning. A leadoff walk by Talbut, a single by Panik, and a sac bunt by Karmas put two men in scoring position for the Red Storm. O’Hare’s ensuing single drove in Talbut and Jeremy Baltz’s sac fly plated Panik.

            Georgia Southern scraped together another run in the bottom of the frame to keep themselves in the contest. After a leadoff double by Ben Morgan and a fly out, Lobban was relieved by right-hander Eddie Medina to matchup against the upcoming right-handed batters in the Georgia Southern lineup. Medina struck out his first batter, but yielded a walk and an RBI-single to allow the Eagles’ second run of the game.

St. John’s got that run back, however, plus one more in the eighth inning. With two outs, the Red Storm put two men in scoring position after Jimmy Brennan singled and Talbut’s groundball to the second baseman was fielded and thrown out of play, putting on Brennan third base and Talbut on second. Panik then drove the both of them in with a single through the right side of the infield, giving St. John’s a 7-2 lead.

A home run by Cochrane in the bottom of the frame caused Medina to be lifted in favor of Matt Carasiti. Carasiti induced two groundballs to end the inning and then worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning to end the game.

St. John’s travels to Greensboro, NC to take on UNC-Greensboro on Mar 8 at 4 p.m.

That would be me in the sporting goods section at Statesboro, GA's K-Mart. Also in the sporting good section, 75 varieties of crossbows.