As a whole, Georgia Southern’s team batting average sits at .271, down from .327 a year ago, and two guys who were both regulars in the 2009 lineup – third baseman A.J. Wirnsberger and first baseman/designated hitter Kyle Blackburn – lead the pack in producing the offense.
As a team, the Eagles (6-7) have scored 90 runs, of which the two seniors have combined for 20 runs and 33 RBIs. Together, they have hit nine of the team’s 11 home runs and 14 of the teams 30 total extra-base hits.
Of course, it’s two new faces, junior-college transfer Shawn Payne (.354, 4 2B, 7 RBI) and true freshman Arthur Owens (.341, 5 RBI) who currently lead the team in batting average.
“We’ve still kind of been searching for that right mix in the lineup to put out there,” said GSU coach Rodney Hennon. “Certainly the two cogs there in the middle are your most experienced hitters in Blackburn and Wirnsberger. Those guys have done a good job handling that situation. One thing about hitting – it’s contagious. When some guys get it going it seems to run right through the lineup. Hopefully we can make that happen and have some hitters step up and pick up some slack where we’re not just depending on those guys for run production.”
Payne found a new role at the leadoff spot in Wednesday’s 8-6 win at Charleston Southern. He contributed immediately drawing a walk to start the game, stealing second, then third, and finally scoring on a throwing error by CSU catcher Nick Chinners. He leads the Eagles with nine stolen bases.
Veteran second baseman Kevin Bowles (.286, 8 RBI) seems to have found a home in the two hole, while Blackburn and Wirnsberger batted in the three and four holes in the win.
Hopefully, the Eagles have found a lineup with which they’re comfortable, because the time for tune-ups is over. Georgia Southern welcomes Appalachian State in the Southern Conference opener today at 7 p.m.
The Mountaineers (10-0) have only played one three-game series this season – a sweep of Rider – and boast single-game wins over Presbyterian (twice), Niagra (twice), Marist, Gardner-Webb and North Carolina A&T.
Their single game against Auburn Wednesday was cancelled due to weather, so they have had since Tuesday to prepare for the start of the SoCon season.
“Obviously they’ve gotten off to a good start,” Hennon said about ASU. “They seem to be pitching well, playing good sound defense and I’m sure they’ve got some confidence. But everybody’s tied for first right now in league play. Each year when you start conference play it’s kind of like a new season, and I know we’re excited about opening up the series this weekend.”
Last year, the Eagles took two out of three on the road from ASU during the regular season and won a 6-5 game in which they hit three home runs – two by Blackburn – in the SoCon Tournament on their way to the championship.
The Eagles will start Jake Brown in Game 1. The senior lefty currently leads the team with a 3.18 ERA and has a team-high 21 strikeouts in 22.1 innings of work. He picked up his first win of the season in last Friday’s 9-1 win over Marshall – a complete-game four hitter.
Matt Murray will once again start Saturday’s 2 p.m. game, and Trent Franzago will get the nod Sunday at 1 p.m.
Saturday’s game was moved from 2:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. and will air live on Comcast Sports South.
Matt Yogus can be reached at (912) 489-9408.
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