2021 Georgia Southern Eagles baseball team American college baseball season
2021 Georgia Southern Eagles baseball team represented Georgia Southern Eagles during the 2021 NCAA Division I baseball season . The Eagles played their home games at J. I. Clements Stadium and were led by twenty-first year head coach Rodney Hennon . They were members of the Sun Belt Conference .
Preseason
Signing Day Recruits
[ 2]
Player
Hometown
Previous Team
Pitchers
Brayden Collett
Evans, Georgia
Greenbrier HS
Rem Maxwell
Winder, Georgia
Jefferson County HS
Will Robbins
Cumming, Georgia
Forsyth Central HS
Brett Zerbel
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta Christian
Pax Briley III
Suwanee, Georgia
North Gwinnett HS
Declan Dun
Peachtree City, Georgia
Starr's Mill HS
Hitters
Blake Chapman
Simsbury, Connecticut
Elev8 Sports Institute
Garrett Carter
McDonough, Georgia
Ola HS
Preston Gunnell
Canton, Georgia
Woodstock HS
Sean White
Peachtree City, Georgia
Starr's Mill HS
JB Bell
Buford, Georgia
Flowery Branch HS
Carson Mynatt
Canton, Georgia
Cherokee HS
Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll
The Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 15, 2021 and the Eagles were picked to finish third in the East Division with 51 votes.[ 3]
Coaches poll (East)
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
Coastal Carolina
69 (10)
2
South Alabama
51 (1)
3 Georgia Southern 51 (1)
4
Troy
44
5
Appalachian State
21
6
Georgia State
16
Aaron Funk (LR, Pitcher)
Jordan Jackson (GASO, Pitcher) Conor Angel (LA, Pitcher)
Wyatt Divis (UTA, Pitcher)
Lance Johnson (TROY, Pitcher)
Caleb Bartolero (TROY, Catcher)
William Sullivan (TROY, 1st Base)
Luke Drumheller (APP, 2nd Base)
Drew Frederic (TROY, Shortstop)
Cooper Weiss (CCU, 3rd Base)
Ethan Wilson (USA, Outfielder)
Parker Chavers (CCU, Outfielder)
Rigsby Mosley (TROY, Outfielder)
Eilan Merejo (GSU, Designated Hitter)
Andrew Beesly (ULM, Utility)
Personnel
Roster
[ 4]
2021 Georgia Southern Eagles roster
Pitchers
8 Griffin Davis – Redshirt Junior
9 Chase Dollander – Freshman
16 Braden Hays – Junior
17 Tyler Owens – Senior
19 Sean Adams – Sophomore
21 Jonathan Edwards – Junior
25 Nick Jones – Senior
26 Jay Thompson – Junior
27 Rhett Gay – Senior
29 Tyler Jones – Senior
32 Jared Szabo – Redshirt Freshman
33 Jordan Jackson – Senior
34 Austin Kleinlein – Redshirt Junior
35 Hayden Harris – Senior
36 Anthony Dimola – Freshman
37 David Johnson – Senior
40 Jacob Parker – Redshirt Senior
43 Connor Bruce – Sophomore
45 Ben Johnson – Freshman
46 Jeremy Gay – Freshman
47 Jake Martin – Sophomore
48 Jackson Dyer – Freshman
Catchers
3 Chandler Davis – Junior
5 Matt Anderson – Senior
13 JP Tighe – Junior
99 Hayden Duffield – Freshman Infielders
00 Jarrett Jenkins – Freshman
2 Jason Swan – Senior
7 Jack Eichler – Sophomore
22 Austin Thompson – Senior
23 Blake Evans – Junior
28 Noah Ledford – Junior
30 Steven Curry – Senior
31 Mitchell Golden – Redshirt Senior
38 Sam Blancato – Sophomore
42 Jaylen Paden – Freshman
44 Jarrett Brown – Sophomore
Outfielders
4 Mason McWhorter – Senior
6 Noah Searcy – Senior
11 Cody Shook – Redshirt Junior
12 Parker Biederer – Senior
41 Christian Avant – Senior
49 J. C. Peacher – Freshman
Coaching staff
2021 Georgia Southern Eagles coaching staff
Rodney Hennon – Head Coach – 21st yearB. J. Green – Assistant Head Coach/Pitching Coach – 11th year
Alan Beck – Assistant Head Coach/Hitting Coach – 6th year
Seth Lancaster – Volunteer Assistant Coach – 1st year
Schedule and results
Legend
Georgia Southern win
Georgia Southern loss
Postponement/Cancelation/Suspensions
Bold Georgia Southern team member
2021 Georgia Southern Eagles baseball game log
Regular season (31–22)
February (2–5)
Date
Opponent
Rank
Site/stadium
Score
Win
Loss
Save
TV
Attendance
Overall record
SBC record
Feb. 19
No. 19 Tennessee
J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA L 3–5Dallas (1–0)
Jackson (0–1)Walsh (1)
ESPN+ 704
0–1
Feb. 20
No. 19 Tennessee
J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA
L 3–5Redmond (1–0)
Harris (0–1)None ESPN+ 767
0–2
Feb. 21
No. 19 Tennessee
J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA
L 3–7 (12 inns)Hunley (1–0)
Paden (0–1)None ESPN+ 709
0–3
Feb. 24
at College of Charleston
CofC Baseball Stadium at Patriots Point • Mount Pleasant, SC W 18–7Thompson (1–0)Cook (0–1)
None 442
1–3
Feb. 26
No. 22 East Carolina
J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA
L 4–6Bridges (1–0)
Jackson (0–2)Colmore (1)
701
1–4
Feb. 27
No. 22 East Carolina
J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA
W 10–7Johnson (1–0)Mayhue (0–1)
Johnson (1)756
2–4
Feb. 28
No. 22 East Carolina
J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA
L 2–9Whisenhunt (1–0)
Hays (0–1)None 762
2–5
March (10–6)
Date
Opponent
Rank
Site/stadium
Score
Win
Loss
Save
TV
Attendance
Overall record
SBC record
Mar. 3
at North Florida
Harmon Stadium • Jacksonville, FL W 3–1Jackson (1–2)Santos (0–1)
Jones (1)119
3–5
Mar. 5
Towson J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA
W 5–1Johnson (2–0)Seils (1–2)
Hays (1)629
4–5
Mar. 6
Towson
J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA
W 7–5Dollander (1–0)Ramanjulu (0–2)
Jones (2)647
5–5
Mar. 7
Towson
J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA
W 6–5Paden (1–1)Santangelo (0–1)
Jones (3)637
6–5
Mar. 9
No. 7 Georgia
J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA
L 2–5Cannon (1–0)
Jackson (1–3)None 850
6–6
Mar. 12
UAB J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA
W 11–7Thompson (2–0)Taylor (0–1)
Jones (4)732
7–6
Mar. 13
UAB
J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA
W 15–4Dollander (2–0)O'Clair (2–2)
None 527
8–6
Mar. 14
UAB
J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA
W 9–5Johnson (1–0)Knight (1–1)
Jones (5)643
9–6
Mar. 17
at No. 12 Georgia Tech
Russ Chandler Stadium • Atlanta, GA Game Postponed
Mar. 19
at Troy
Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL W 8–1Owens (1–0)Ortiz (2–2)
None 809
10–6
1–0
Mar. 20
at Troy
Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL
L 8–11Gainous (3–1)
Dollander (2–1)None 1,057
10–7
1–1
Mar. 21
at Troy
Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL
L 4–8Witcher (3–1)
Johnson (1–1)Pettys (1)
831
10–8
1–2
Mar. 23
vs. Clemson
SRP Park • North Augusta, SC L 4–6Clayton (2–0)
Parker (0–1)None 1,498
10–9
Mar. 26
Appalachian State J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA
W 3–1Owens (2–0)Tuthill (2–3)
Jones (6)779
11–9
2–2
Mar. 27
Appalachian State
J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA
W 10–2Dollander (3–1)Martinez (3–3)
None 735
12–9
3–2
Mar. 28
Appalachian State
J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA
L 1–3Hall (4–0)
Johnson (1–2)Ellington (2)
607
12–10
3–3
Mar. 30
College of Charleston
J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA
L 3–6Czerwinski (1–0)
Paden (1–2)Williams (2)
637
12–11
April (13–5)
Date
Opponent
Rank
Site/stadium
Score
Win
Loss
Save
TV
Attendance
Overall record
SBC record
Apr. 1
at Georgia State
GSU Baseball Complex • Decatur, GA W 23–1Owens (3–0)Watson (2–4)
None ESPN+ 292
13–11
4–3
Apr. 2
at Georgia State
GSU Baseball Complex • Decatur, GA
L 6–7 (10 inns)Horton (1–1)
Johnson (1–3)None ESPN+ 356
13–12
4–4
Apr. 3
at Georgia State
GSU Baseball Complex • Decatur, GA
W 2–3Sweatt (2–1)
Jackson (1–4)None ESPN+ 398
13–13
4–5
Apr. 6
at Georgia
Foley Field • Athens, GA W 2–1Hays (1–1)Pasqua (1–1)
Jones (7)664
14–13
Apr. 9
Louisiana–Monroe J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA
W 4–3Owens (4–0)Longsworth (0–2)
Jones (2)617
15–13
5–5
Apr. 10
Louisiana–Monroe
J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA
W 4–1Dollander (4–1)Barlow (3–4)
Jones (9)647
16–13
6–5
Apr. 11
Louisiana–Monroe
J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA
W 7–1Jackson (2–4)Lien (3–1)
None 573
17–13
7–5
Apr. 13
North Florida
J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA
W 8–6Harris (1–1)Madonna (2–2)
Parker (1)546
18–13
Apr. 14
Mercer J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA
W 3–2Jones (1–0)Sutko (2–2)
None 607
19–13
Apr. 16
at Coastal Carolina
Springs Brooks Stadium • Conway, SC W 8–2Owens (5–0)Hopwood (4–2)
None 1,000
20–13
8–5
Apr. 17
at Coastal Carolina
Springs Brooks Stadium • Conway, SC
W 8–3Hays (2–1)Parker (2–3)
Jones (10)1,000
21–13
9–5
Apr. 18
at Coastal Carolina
Springs Brooks Stadium • Conway, SC
L 6–8Sharkey (2–1)
Jackson (2–5)Kreuzer (1)
1,000
21–14
9–6
Apr. 21
at Kennesaw State
Fred Stillwell Stadium • Kennesaw, GA W 11–5Thompson (3–0)Grogan (3–1)
None 120
22–14
Apr. 24
at Oklahoma
L. Dale Mitchell Baseball Park • Norman, OK W 4–1Owens (6–0)Bennett (3–3)
Jones (11)724
23–14
Apr. 24
at Oklahoma
L. Dale Mitchell Baseball Park • Norman, OK
W 3–2Johnson (2–3)Taggart (1–5)
Thompson (1)725
24–14
Apr. 25
at Oklahoma
L. Dale Mitchell Baseball Park • Norman, OK
L 4–14Ruffcorn (3–1)
Jackson (2–6)None 613
24–15
Apr. 27
Jacksonville J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA
W 4–3Thompson (4–0)Graham (0–2)
Jones (12)529
25–15
Apr. 30
South Alabama J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA
L 5–12Smith (4–0)
Harris (1–2)None 769
25–16
9–7
May (6–6)
Date
Opponent
Rank
Site/stadium
Score
Win
Loss
Save
TV
Attendance
Overall record
SBC record
May 1
South Alabama
J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA
W 11–2Thompson (5–0)Boswell (2–2)
None 673
26–16
10–7
May 2
South Alabama
J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA
W 7–6Thompson (6–0)Dalton (4–3)
Jones (13)639
27–16
11–7
May 7
at Arkansas State
Tomlinson Stadium–Kell Field • Jonesboro, AR L 1–6Hudson (4–1)
Owens (6–1)None 346
27–17
11–8
May 8
at Arkansas State
Tomlinson Stadium–Kell Field • Jonesboro, AR
L 0–4Nash (3–4)
Dollander (4–2)Jumper (4)
27–18
11–9
May 8
at Arkansas State
Tomlinson Stadium–Kell Field • Jonesboro, AR
W 3–2Jackson (3–6)Holt (3–3)
Jones (14)457
28–18
12–9
May 11
Kennesaw State
J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA
Game cancelled
May 13
at Elon
Walter C. Latham Park • Elon, NC L 5–8Edgington (3–3)
Owens (6–2)Sprake (5)
65
28–19
May 14
at Elon
Walter C. Latham Park • Elon, NC
L 4–6Simon (1–4)
Dollander (4–3)Sprake (6)
65
28–20
May 15
at Elon
Walter C. Latham Park • Elon, NC
W 7–5Harris (2–2)Evans (0–1)
Jones (15)65
29–20
May 18
at Mercer
OrthoGeorgia Park • Macon, GA L 1–5Jackson (3–3)
Davis (0–1)Sutko (12)
478
29–21
May 20
UT Arlington J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA
L 3–5Norris (4–3)
Thompson (6–1)King (4)
457
29–22
12–10
May 21
UT Arlington
J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA
W 3–2Jackson (4–6)Bullard (7–4)
Jones (16)487
30–22
13–10
May 22
UT Arlington
J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA
W 6–3Davis (1–1)Moffat (4–5)
Jones (17)529
31–22
14–10
Post-season (3–1)
SBC Tournament
Date
Opponent
Seed/Rank
Site/stadium
Score
Win
Loss
Save
TV
Attendance
Overall record
Tournament record
May 26
vs. (5E) Georgia State
(2E)
Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium • Montgomery, AL W 10–1Owens (7–2)Jones (1–8)
None ESPN+ 32–22
1–0
May 28
vs. (3W) Louisiana–Monroe
(2E)
Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium • Montgomery, AL
W 9–5Bruce (1–0)Lien (4–3)
None ESPN+ 33–22
2–0
May 29
vs. (1W) Louisiana
(2E)
Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium • Montgomery, AL
W 3–2 (11 inns)Thompson (7–1)Arrighetti (8–6)
None ESPN+ 34–22
3–0
May 30
vs. (1E) South Alabama
(2E)
Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium • Montgomery, AL
L 4–10Smith (6–1)
Harris (2–3)None ESPN+ 3,162
34–23
3–1
Schedule Source: [ 5] *Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the D1Baseball poll.
Postseason
Conference accolades
Player of the Year: Mason McWhorter – GASO
Pitcher of the Year: Hayden Arnold – LR
Freshman of the Year: Garrett Gainous – TROY
Newcomer of the Year: Drake Osborn – LA
Coach of the Year: Mark Calvi – USA
All Conference First Team
Connor Cooke (LA)
Hayden Arnold (LR)
Carlos Tavera (UTA)
Nick Jones (GASO) Drake Osborn (LA)
Robbie Young (APP)
Luke Drumheller (APP)
Drew Frederic (TROY)
Ben Klutts (ARST)
Mason McWhorter (GASO) Logan Cerny (TROY)
Ethan Wilson (USA)
Cameron Jones (GSU)
Ben Fitzgerald (LA)
All Conference Second Team
JoJo Booker (USA)
Tyler Tuthill (APP)
Jeremy Lee (USA)
Aaron Barkley (LR)
BT Riopelle (CCU)
Dylan Paul (UTA)
Travis Washburn (ULM)
Eric Brown (CCU)
Grant Schulz (ULM)
Tyler Duncan (ARST)
Parker Chavers (CCU)
Josh Smith (GSU)
Andrew Miller (UTA)
Noah Ledford (GASO)
References: [ 6]
Rankings
^ Collegiate Baseball ranked 40 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranked 30 teams weekly during the season.† NCBWA ranks 35 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranks 30 teams weekly during the season.* A new poll was not released for this week, so for comparison purposes, the previous week's ranking is inserted in this week's slot.
References
^ "Sun Belt Conference baseball standings" . D1Baseball.com. Retrieved May 31, 2021 .^ "Georgia Southern – Perfect Game Baseball Player College Commitments" . Perfect Game . Retrieved August 18, 2020 .^ Conference, Sun Belt. "Sun Belt Conference Announces 2021 Baseball Preseason Honors" . sunbeltsports.org . Retrieved February 17, 2021 . ^ "2021 Baseball Roster" . Georgia Southern University Athletics . Retrieved February 19, 2021 .^ "Georgia Southern Announces 2021 Baseball Schedule" . Georgia Southern University Athletics . Retrieved February 19, 2021 .^ "Sun Belt Announces 2021 Baseball All-Conference Teams & Postseason Awards" . sunbeltsports.org . Retrieved January 5, 2022 .^ "Baseball Coaches Poll" . Retrieved February 28, 2021 .^ "College Baseball Top 25 Rankings" . baseballamerica.com . Retrieved February 28, 2021 .^ "2019 Collegiate Baseball Polls – Collegiate Baseball Newspaper" . baseballnews.com . Retrieved February 28, 2021 .^ "NCBWA > News" . sportswriters.net . Retrieved February 28, 2021 .^ "College Baseball Rankings News & Analysis" . d1baseball.com . Retrieved February 28, 2021 .
Venues People Seasons College World Series appearances in italics
