Baseball swept by Georgia Southern

The No. 14 Jackets started their 2007 campaign this past weekend in Statesboro on a sour note as they were swept two games in a row by the Georgia Southern Eagles 11-4 on Saturday and 9-6 on Sunday.

Saturday, the Jackets started out behind the eight ball as the Eagles scored six runs in the first three innings.

Unlike the game this past Tuesday, the Jackets were unable to pick themselves up off the mat.

Starter David Duncan was the recipient of most of the damage as he allowed six runs, seven hits and two walks in five innings pitched.

In three innings of relief, the combination of Jared Hyatt, Michael Hutts, and Eddie Burns did not improve Tech's situation late in the game as they gave up a combined five runs on seven hits in three innings.

Last Sunday, Tech started out in the lead picking up two runs in the first two innings with solid pitching from starter Ryan Turner through out the first three innings.

For the Jackets, the tide turned quickly in the fourth inning as Turner allowed two runs which tied the game.

Both runs were unearned as the defense made errors in key spots to allow the Eagles to plate the game-tying runs.

Turner finished with the loss, allowing five runs on ten hits in 4 and 2/3 innings.

In the fifth, Georgia Southern put up a four spot to put themselves up 6-2.

With a three-run inning in the seventh, the Eagles were able to distance themselves enough from the Jackets so that Wally Crancer's solo home run in the eighth and Danny Payne's two run home run in the ninth were not enough to rally the Jackets from behind in a 9-6 loss.

Tech's preseason All-American Matt Wieters struggled to get hits and went hitless in nine attempts.

"I know that I didn't get any hits this weekend, but I hit a few balls hard and saw [the ball] pretty well so I'm not worried," said catcher Matt Wieters.

While Wieters was unable to get it going, Jackets centerfielder Danny Payne shined against the Eagles.

In ten plate appearances, Payne went four-for-six at the plate with a home run, four RBI's, and one stolen base. For the series, Payne had an Onbase Plus Slugging of 2.133.

Payne also pitched one inning in relief on Sunday and retired the side with only eight pitches.

Payne's biggest play of the weekend came on defense when he snagged a home run away from the Eagles late in Sunday's losing effort.

"That's just the way you play the game. Everyone dreams of bringing back a home run at one point," centerfielder Danny Payne said.

With the win, Georgia Southern earned its first series sweep of Tech since 1996.

Coincidentally, 1996 was the last time Georgia Southern beat the Jackets in Statesboro.