# 2021 Georgia Southern Eagles baseball team

The 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

| 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.
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 |

### Preseason All-Sun Belt Team & Honors

* 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)

## 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 | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record |
| Feb. 19 | No. 19 Tennessee | J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA | L 3–5 | Dallas (1–0) | Jackson (0–1) | Walsh (1) | ESPN+ | 704 | 0–1 |
| Feb. 20 | No. 19 Tennessee | J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA | L 3–5 | Redmond (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 18–7 | Thompson (1–0) | Cook (0–1) | None | | 442 | 1–3 |
| Feb. 26 | No. 22 East Carolina | J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA | L 4–6 | Bridges (1–0) | Jackson (0–2) | Colmore (1) | | 701 | 1–4 |
| Feb. 27 | No. 22 East Carolina | J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA | W 10–7 | Johnson (1–0) | Mayhue (0–1) | Johnson (1) | | 756 | 2–4 |
| Feb. 28 | No. 22 East Carolina | J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA | L 2–9 | Whisenhunt (1–0) | Hays (0–1) | None | | 762 | 2–5 |
March (10–6) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SBC record |
| Mar. 3 | at North Florida | Harmon Stadium • Jacksonville, FL | W 3–1 | Jackson (1–2) | Santos (0–1) | Jones (1) | | 119 | 3–5 | |
| Mar. 5 | Towson | J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA | W 5–1 | Johnson (2–0) | Seils (1–2) | Hays (1) | | 629 | 4–5 | |
| Mar. 6 | Towson | J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA | W 7–5 | Dollander (1–0) | Ramanjulu (0–2) | Jones (2) | | 647 | 5–5 | |
| Mar. 7 | Towson | J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA | W 6–5 | Paden (1–1) | Santangelo (0–1) | Jones (3) | | 637 | 6–5 | |
| Mar. 9 | No. 7 Georgia | J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA | L 2–5 | Cannon (1–0) | Jackson (1–3) | None | | 850 | 6–6 | |
| Mar. 12 | UAB | J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA | W 11–7 | Thompson (2–0) | Taylor (0–1) | Jones (4) | | 732 | 7–6 | |
| Mar. 13 | UAB | J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA | W 15–4 | Dollander (2–0) | O'Clair (2–2) | None | | 527 | 8–6 | |
| Mar. 14 | UAB | J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA | W 9–5 | Johnson (1–0) | Knight (1–1) | Jones (5) | | 643 | 9–6 | |
| Mar. 17 | at No. 12 Georgia Tech | Russ Chandler Stadium • Atlanta, GA | Game Postponed | Game Postponed | Game Postponed | Game Postponed | Game Postponed | Game Postponed | Game Postponed | Game Postponed |
| Mar. 19 | at Troy | Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL | W 8–1 | Owens (1–0) | Ortiz (2–2) | None | | 809 | 10–6 | 1–0 |
| Mar. 20 | at Troy | Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL | L 8–11 | Gainous (3–1) | Dollander (2–1) | None | | 1,057 | 10–7 | 1–1 |
| Mar. 21 | at Troy | Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL | L 4–8 | Witcher (3–1) | Johnson (1–1) | Pettys (1) | | 831 | 10–8 | 1–2 |
| Mar. 23 | vs. Clemson | SRP Park • North Augusta, SC | L 4–6 | Clayton (2–0) | Parker (0–1) | None | | 1,498 | 10–9 | |
| Mar. 26 | Appalachian State | J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA | W 3–1 | Owens (2–0) | Tuthill (2–3) | Jones (6) | | 779 | 11–9 | 2–2 |
| Mar. 27 | Appalachian State | J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA | W 10–2 | Dollander (3–1) | Martinez (3–3) | None | | 735 | 12–9 | 3–2 |
| Mar. 28 | Appalachian State | J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA | L 1–3 | Hall (4–0) | Johnson (1–2) | Ellington (2) | | 607 | 12–10 | 3–3 |
| Mar. 30 | College of Charleston | J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA | L 3–6 | Czerwinski (1–0) | Paden (1–2) | Williams (2) | | 637 | 12–11 | |
April (13–5) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SBC record |
| Apr. 1 | at Georgia State | GSU Baseball Complex • Decatur, GA | W 23–1 | Owens (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 2–3 | Sweatt (2–1) | Jackson (1–4) | None | ESPN+ | 398 | 13–13 | 4–5 |
| Apr. 6 | at Georgia | Foley Field • Athens, GA | W 2–1 | Hays (1–1) | Pasqua (1–1) | Jones (7) | | 664 | 14–13 | |
| Apr. 9 | Louisiana–Monroe | J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA | W 4–3 | Owens (4–0) | Longsworth (0–2) | Jones (2) | | 617 | 15–13 | 5–5 |
| Apr. 10 | Louisiana–Monroe | J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA | W 4–1 | Dollander (4–1) | Barlow (3–4) | Jones (9) | | 647 | 16–13 | 6–5 |
| Apr. 11 | Louisiana–Monroe | J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA | W 7–1 | Jackson (2–4) | Lien (3–1) | None | | 573 | 17–13 | 7–5 |
| Apr. 13 | North Florida | J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA | W 8–6 | Harris (1–1) | Madonna (2–2) | Parker (1) | | 546 | 18–13 | |
| Apr. 14 | Mercer | J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA | W 3–2 | Jones (1–0) | Sutko (2–2) | None | | 607 | 19–13 | |
| Apr. 16 | at Coastal Carolina | Springs Brooks Stadium • Conway, SC | W 8–2 | Owens (5–0) | Hopwood (4–2) | None | | 1,000 | 20–13 | 8–5 |
| Apr. 17 | at Coastal Carolina | Springs Brooks Stadium • Conway, SC | W 8–3 | Hays (2–1) | Parker (2–3) | Jones (10) | | 1,000 | 21–13 | 9–5 |
| Apr. 18 | at Coastal Carolina | Springs Brooks Stadium • Conway, SC | L 6–8 | Sharkey (2–1) | Jackson (2–5) | Kreuzer (1) | | 1,000 | 21–14 | 9–6 |
| Apr. 21 | at Kennesaw State | Fred Stillwell Stadium • Kennesaw, GA | W 11–5 | Thompson (3–0) | Grogan (3–1) | None | | 120 | 22–14 | |
| Apr. 24 | at Oklahoma | L. Dale Mitchell Baseball Park • Norman, OK | W 4–1 | Owens (6–0) | Bennett (3–3) | Jones (11) | | 724 | 23–14 | |
| Apr. 24 | at Oklahoma | L. Dale Mitchell Baseball Park • Norman, OK | W 3–2 | Johnson (2–3) | Taggart (1–5) | Thompson (1) | | 725 | 24–14 | |
| Apr. 25 | at Oklahoma | L. Dale Mitchell Baseball Park • Norman, OK | L 4–14 | Ruffcorn (3–1) | Jackson (2–6) | None | | 613 | 24–15 | |
| Apr. 27 | Jacksonville | J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA | W 4–3 | Thompson (4–0) | Graham (0–2) | Jones (12) | | 529 | 25–15 | |
| Apr. 30 | South Alabama | J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA | L 5–12 | Smith (4–0) | Harris (1–2) | None | | 769 | 25–16 | 9–7 |
May (6–6) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SBC record |
| May 1 | South Alabama | J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA | W 11–2 | Thompson (5–0) | Boswell (2–2) | None | | 673 | 26–16 | 10–7 |
| May 2 | South Alabama | J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA | W 7–6 | Thompson (6–0) | Dalton (4–3) | Jones (13) | | 639 | 27–16 | 11–7 |
| May 7 | at Arkansas State | Tomlinson Stadium–Kell Field • Jonesboro, AR | L 1–6 | Hudson (4–1) | Owens (6–1) | None | | 346 | 27–17 | 11–8 |
| May 8 | at Arkansas State | Tomlinson Stadium–Kell Field • Jonesboro, AR | L 0–4 | Nash (3–4) | Dollander (4–2) | Jumper (4) | | | 27–18 | 11–9 |
| May 8 | at Arkansas State | Tomlinson Stadium–Kell Field • Jonesboro, AR | W 3–2 | Jackson (3–6) | Holt (3–3) | Jones (14) | | 457 | 28–18 | 12–9 |
| May 11 | Kennesaw State | J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled |
| May 13 | at Elon | Walter C. Latham Park • Elon, NC | L 5–8 | Edgington (3–3) | Owens (6–2) | Sprake (5) | | 65 | 28–19 | |
| May 14 | at Elon | Walter C. Latham Park • Elon, NC | L 4–6 | Simon (1–4) | Dollander (4–3) | Sprake (6) | | 65 | 28–20 | |
| May 15 | at Elon | Walter C. Latham Park • Elon, NC | W 7–5 | Harris (2–2) | Evans (0–1) | Jones (15) | | 65 | 29–20 | |
| May 18 | at Mercer | OrthoGeorgia Park • Macon, GA | L 1–5 | Jackson (3–3) | Davis (0–1) | Sutko (12) | | 478 | 29–21 | |
| May 20 | UT Arlington | J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA | L 3–5 | Norris (4–3) | Thompson (6–1) | King (4) | | 457 | 29–22 | 12–10 |
| May 21 | UT Arlington | J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA | W 3–2 | Jackson (4–6) | Bullard (7–4) | Jones (16) | | 487 | 30–22 | 13–10 |
| May 22 | UT Arlington | J. I. Clements Stadium • Statesboro, GA | W 6–3 | Davis (1–1) | Moffat (4–5) | Jones (17) | | 529 | 31–22 | 14–10 |
Post-season (3–1) :
SBC Tournament (3–1) :
| 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 10–1 | Owens (7–2) | Jones (1–8) | None | ESPN+ | | 32–22 | 1–0 |
| May 28 | vs. (3W) Louisiana–Monroe | (2E) | Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium • Montgomery, AL | W 9–5 | Bruce (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 4–10 | Smith (6–1) | Harris (2–3) | None | ESPN+ | 3,162 | 34–23 | 3–1 |
    Schedule Source:
*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
References:

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Final |
| Coaches' | — | —* | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | |
| Baseball America | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | |
| Collegiate Baseball^ | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | |
| NCBWA† | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | RV | RV | | | | | | |
| D1Baseball | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | |
^ 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.