May 29, 2011

Box Score

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Georgia Southern pitcher Chris Beck pitched a complete-game, three-hit shutout as the fourth-seeded Eagle baseball team defeated third-seeded Samford, 1-0, in the championship game of the Southern Conference Tournament Sunday at Riley Park.

"This is just a crazy game," Samford head coach Casey Dunn said. "You give up one run and you lose a championship. This was a great run by our kids. They competed well today, we just didn't have the answer for their guy on the mound."

The loss ends Samford's season with a record of 37-23. The 37 wins are the most in program history. Georgia Southern improves to 36-24 and the Eagles earn the SoCon's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Samford's Lex Rutledge (5-6) pitched 3.2 innings, giving up one run on three hits and striking out four batters to take the loss on the mound. C.K. Irby, Joseph Burns, Tyler Vanderheiden, Grant Sides and Andrew Jones also saw time on the mound for Samford.

For Samford at the plate, Brad Moss and Saxon Butler each went 1-for-4 in the game. Kevin Putkonen went 1-for-3 for the Bulldogs.

Beck (9-4) struck out nine batters without allowing a walk in earning the win. For GSU at the plate, Shawn Payne, Eric Phillips, Steve Cochrane and Scooter Williams had one hit each. Williams scored the lone run of the game.

Georgia Southern scored the game's lone run in the top of the third inning. Williams singled to lead off the inning. With one out, Williams stole second base and then moved to third base on a Samford error. Williams scored on a wild pitch for a 1-0 Georgia Southern lead.

With one out in the bottom of the third inning, Samford's Tyler Filliben and Michael Johnson reached base on back-to-back GSU errors. Moss then lined into a double play to end the Bulldogs' biggest threat of the game.

Following the game, the All-Tournament Team was announced. Samford had three players named to the team. Samford's representatives on the All-Tournament Team were relief pitcher Andrew Jones, second baseman Michael Johnson and outfielder Phillip Ervin. GSU's Beck was named the Most Outstanding Player.

All-Tournament Team
SP: Chris Beck, Georgia Southern
SP: Seth Grant, Appalachian State
RP: Andrew Jones, Samford
C: Tom Richardson, Georgia Southern
1B: Marty Gantt, College of Charleston
2B: Michael Johnson, Samford
SS: Eric Phillips, Georgia Southern
3B: Alex Abrams, Furman
OF: Tyler Zupcic, Appalachian State
OF: Cole Rakar, College of Charleston
OF: Phillip Ervin, Samford
DH: Michael Burruss, Georgia Southern

Tournament Most Outstanding Player, Walt Nadzak Award
Chris Beck, Georgia Southern