SAINT LEO, Fla. – The road had not been a friendly place for the Georgia Southwestern Hurricanes in 2012 as they had recorded only one win in their 14 away games. Their 3-2 loss at Saint Leo University (17-8) was their closest road loss of the season.
The first threat of the day for the GSW offense came in the second inning of the game. Jarrod Taylor would walk, which was followed by back-to-back two-out singles by Kyle Nobles and Chase Young. However with the bases loaded, second baseman Les Cromer was unable to bring home Taylor as he chopped out to third base to end the inning.
Saint Leo would do more than threaten in their half of the second inning as they came out swinging with a Zach Miller double and an Anthony Santa single to open the inning. Brendan Collins and Daniel Torres would record RBI's behind Miller and Santa to give Saint Leo the 2-0 lead after two innings.
The Hurricanes would muster a response in the following inning as they took advantage of a Taed Moses throwing error at third base for SLU. The mistake allowed Michel Coffey to reach base and advance to second. John Duran would single in the next at-bat to put runners on the corners with no outs. The set-up would garner one run for GSW as Beau Parker world drive in Coffey from third on a deep fly ball to left field. Unfortunately, the Blue & Gold would not advance another runner across home plate in the inning.
Georgia Southwestern would strike again in the fifth inning as Beau Parker would again record a RBI as he would drive in John Duran. The inning would end as Parker would be caught stealing during the next at-bat to keep the score tied at two runs apiece after four and a half innings.
Saint Leo would look to threaten right away in the fifth inning after both of the first two hitters reached safely. Torres and Moses would be moved over via a Ryan Brnovich bunt. With runners in scoring position and only one out, GSW starter Trent Franzago would tip-toe around the jam and get out of the inning unscathed after recording a strikeout and fly ball out.
A potential go-ahead run for the Hurricanes would be left stranded on third in the sixth inning. Randall Sheffield would reach base on an error, steal second and advance to third on a wild pitch to lead off the inning. He would not pass third as all three of the Hurricanes behind Sheffield would be unable to score the left fielder.
The go-ahead run of the game would be scored by Saint Leo as Brendan Collins would single to lead off the inning and take second on a balk by GSW starter Trent Franzago. He would come around on a Dustin Brown triple.
The Hurricanes would go down in the top of ninth one-two-three to end any comeback attempt and finalize the 3-2 loss.
Although he would earn the loss in the decision, senior Trent Franzago would make his best start since his six innings, three hits and no earned runs start on opening day against then-nationally ranked Barry University on February 4th. The Fort Valley native finished the night going eight innings while scatter eight hits, giving up three earned runs and striking out four Lions.
The loss sets the Georgia Southwestern record to 4-23 (2-12 PBC). The Hurricanes will look to even the series before going back to Americus tomorrow, Wednesday, March 20th with first pitch coming at 4:00 p.m.