GSU Falls to Wisconsin, Two-Hits Drake to Win 2-0

TAMPA, Fla. - The pitchers were the stars of the show as Georgia Southern Softball earned a split on Saturday at the USF Invitational. The Eagles opened the day with an extra innings loss to Wisconsin, 3-2, but responded in the second game of the day to defeat Drake, 2-0 on a two-hitter by Brooke Red.

-- GAME ONE (GSU 2, WISCONSIN 3) --

Georgia Southern's starting pitcher Sarah Purvis (Warner Robins, Ga.) held Wisconsin to just two hits in the first six innings, but in the top of the seventh the Badgers strung together a walk and a single to chase Purvis from the game. The Badgers would use a sacrifice fly to score a run and take a 1-0 lead with the Eagles coming to bat in the bottom of the seventh.

Mackenzie Williams (Baxley, Ga.) opened the bottom of the seventh with her first home run of the season to left center. The bomb tied the game and 1-1 and forced the second extra inning game of the season for Georgia Southern.

Wisconsin scored two runs in the eighth, the first coming via a bunt and a sacrifice fly. An error later in the inning allowed a second run to score to give the Badgers a 3-2 lead.

The Eagles opened the inning with a runner on second base, who scored on a double by Alexa Lewis (Lawrenceville, Ga.). A pair of strikeouts to close the inning stranded runners on second and third as the Eagles dropped the final result, 3-2.

-- GAME TWO (GSU 2, Drake 0) --

In the second game of the day, freshman Brooke Red (Warner Robins, Ga.) tossed a two hitter to earn her second-consecutive victory in the circle over the Drake Bulldogs. The Eagle freshman carried her no hitter bid into the fifth frame, recording two outs before a Bulldog batter doubled down the left field line. Only one other runner reached base, that coming with a single to the shortstop. Red struck out three batters in the outing as well.

Georgia Southern posted all the offense it needed in the fourth inning when an Andrea Tarashuk (Flemington, N.J.) double, her sixth of the season plated Hanna Ennis (Snellville, Ga.). The Eagles doubled their advantage later in the frame when Tabby Douberley (Clyo, Ga.) grounded out to send Tarashuk, who reached third on a wild pitch, home for the second run of the game.

The Eagles wrap-up the USF Invitational on Sunday afternoon against USF at 1 p.m.

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Category: Softball

Published on Saturday, 18 February 2012 17:08