AMERICUS, Ga. — Georgia Southwestern opened Peach Belt Conference play in dominant fashion Friday night at Hurricane Stadium, scoring early and often in a 10-0 run-rule victory over USC Beaufort.
Four of the Hurricanes' five wins this season have now been called early with GSW holding a lead of at least 10 runs — and this one followed that same script from the start.
With the win, GSW improves to 5-4 overall and 1-0 in Peach Belt Conference play, while USC Beaufort falls to 3-3.
Koehler Continues His Dominance
Reigning National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Southeast Region Pitcher of the Week
Evan Koehler delivered another masterful outing on the mound.
The right-hander worked five scoreless innings, allowing just three hits while striking out nine. He navigated four walks but never allowed the Sand Sharks to generate sustained pressure, stranding multiple runners in scoring position.
Through three starts and 20 innings this season, Koehler owns a 0.45 earned run average with 30 strikeouts, continuing to anchor the Hurricanes' rotation in commanding fashion.
Relievers
Carter Hennon and
Trey Clinton combined to close out the final two innings and secure the shutout.
Second-Inning Surge Breaks It Open
After taking a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI single from
Josh McDonald that scored
Devon Murphy, the Hurricanes erupted in the second inning to seize full control.
GSW plated six runs in the frame.
Noah Jones started the rally with an RBI single, followed by a run-scoring knock from
Caleb Gipson.
Kelsen Johnson added an RBI single, and a sacrifice fly from McDonald brought home two more. A wild pitch capped the inning as the Hurricanes surged ahead 7-0.
Georgia Southwestern added to the lead in the third when
Evan Wainman launched a solo home run, pushing the advantage to 8-0.
Wainman Sparks the Offense
Wainman powered the middle of the order, finishing 2-for-2 with a home run, two RBIs, three runs scored and a stolen base.
Murphy added two hits and scored three times, while Gipson, Johnson, Jones and
Drew Reaves each drove in a run. The Hurricanes were aggressive on the bases, swiping five stolen bases and consistently putting pressure on USC Beaufort's defense.
Reaves delivered the final blow in the seventh with an RBI single to score Wainman and trigger the run-rule finish at 10-0.
Setting the Tone in League Play
In a matchup that marked the Peach Belt Conference opener for both programs, Georgia Southwestern wasted no time establishing momentum.
Behind dominant pitching, timely hitting and aggressive baserunning, the Hurricanes set the tone for conference play and will look to carry that energy into the remainder of the weekend series at Hurricane Stadium that wraps up with a doubleheader Saturday starting at 1 p.m.
