Seven-run seventh inning propels ETSU to victory

STATESBORO, Ga. (Feb. 26, 2023) – ETSU baseball salvaged a pair of tough losses this weekend with a dominant win on Sunday against Georgia Southern, using strong performances on the mound and in the box to earn a 10-2 victory over the Eagles in the series finale at J. I. Clements Stadium.

The Bucs snapped a three-game skid with today’s win — shoving the Eagles’ brooms back in the closet after a one-run loss on Friday and a shutout on Saturday. Today, the Bucs had contributions from everyone involved and used a seven-run seventh inning to turn a 3-2 game into a lopsided win.

Offensively, ETSU had 15 hits, including four in his first four at-bats for sophomore outfielder Tommy Barth (Brecksville, Ohio). Four other players had multi-hit days, including freshman Cody Miller (Rocky Point, N.Y.) with a 2-for-4 day in his first collegiate start at third base. Junior Nick Iannantone (Plainfield, Ill.) drove home a team-high three runs, going 2-for-3 with a walk and two run-scoring singles.

On the mound, ETSU allowed just two runs between the trio of senior starter Landon Smiddy (Knoxville, Tenn.), fifth-year senior Colby Stuart (Elon, N.C.) and true freshman Andrew Cotten (Lexington, S.C.). The three combined for just three walks, six strikeouts and nine hits allowed — including three shutout innings from Stuart in relief. Smiddy picked up the win, improving to 2-1 on the season.

Most of the damage came late in the game, as ETSU clang to a 3-2 lead through the sixth inning. Iannantone singled home the first run of the game, scoring fellow junior Cameron Sisneros (Littleton, Colo.) after Sisneros doubled down the right field line to get in scoring position. A single by Noah Webb (Kodak, Tenn.) moved him over to third for Iannantone to score him.

Senior Ashton King (Knoxville, Tenn.) scored in the third inning on a passed ball, then Sisneros singled home Noah Gent (Corryton, Tenn.) to make it 3-0. Georgia Southern churned out a run in each the third and fifth inning to make it 3-2. Combined with Stuart and Cotten’s late relief pitching, the ETSU offense turned it on with seven runs before the stretch.

The hit parade began with no other than Barth, picking up his fourth hit of the day with a single to left field. With King and Gent reaching to load the bases, senior cleanup Garett Wallace (Sanford, Fla.) hit one off the high right field wall and brought home two insurance runs. Those two turned into five as the lead doubled. Webb took a bases-loaded hit by pitch, Iannantone singled in two more runs and later scored on a wild pitch, while Miller hit a sac fly to bring home Webb.

In total, nine players reached base on the day and eight of those nine did so with at least one hit. The lone hit from a non-starter came in the ninth inning in the form of a leadoff single by senior Skyler Cannady (Nicholasville, Ky.) in a pinch-hit situation.

TEAM RECORDS

ETSU: 3-4

Georgia Southern: 4-3

PITCHERS OF RECORD

Win – Landon Smiddy (2-1)

Loss – Zachary Harris (0-2)

Save – None

NEXT GAME

The Bucs will spend the next four games in the friendly confines of Thomas Stadium, beginning the home stand on Tuesday, Feb. 28 against Appalachian State at 3 p.m. 

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