Eagles Storm Past Mountaineers for Saturday Sweep

BOONE, N.C. - Georgia Southern Softball earned a pair of victories over Appalachian State on the field as well as a win over the weather in getting both games completed on Saturday afternoon. Lexi Allen (Cobbtown, Ga.) hit her first career home run in the opener as the Eagles took a 7-2 win. In game two, Allie Miles (Dacula, Ga.) was impressive for the Eagles as GSU held on for the 2-0 win. The second game was marred by a pair of rain delays that stopped play for just over an hour.

"We picked up another series victory today, and that is our goal every week," said Head Coach Annie Smith. "Our pitching continues to be outstanding and we did a good job of hitting with runners in scoring position. We've got another big game tomorrow that we're going to be ready for."

With the doubleheader sweep, Georgia Southern is 31-15 overall and 16-1 in SoCon play. Appalachian falls to 17-21 overall and 7-11 in the league.

-GAME ONE-

The Eagles got on the board early with a two-run first inning. A pair of walks opened the game, followed by a throwing error on Marie Fogle's (Rincon, Ga.) sacrifice bunt attempt. A run scored on the play. A second run came home on Shelby Morrill's (Madison, Ga.) ground out to first base.

In the second inning, Allen recorded her first career home run with a moon shot down the line in left. The two-run job scored Tabby Douberley (Clyo, Ga.) from first base after her walk the previous at bat.

Appalachian State's Michelle Lighton got the Mountaineers on the board with one swing of the bat in the bottom of the second, hitting a home run to straight-away centerfield. Lighton's home run made the score 4-1. The Mountaineers cut the lead to 4-2 two innings later with a leadoff home run by Allie Cashion.

Georgia Southern entered the fifth inning with just one hit in the game, Allen's home run. The Eagles changed that with three runs off five hits in the inning to go up by a 7-2 margin.

Sarah Purvis (Warner Robins, Ga.) worked the first six innings allowing two runs off four hits. She picked up her 16th victory of the season. She struck out two batters, raising her total to 181 Marla Thompson (Statesboro, Ga.) came in out of the bullpen to finish off the game and nail down the Georgia Southern victory, their 30th this season.

-GAME TWO-

With rain making its way up the valley and claps of thunder in the distance, Georgia Southern opened game two with a pair of runs, the second coming on Mackenzie Williams' (Baxley, Ga.) RBI single up the middle. With one out and the bases loaded the game went into a lightning delay which lasted 43 minutes. On the restart, the Mountaineers turned a double play to end the inning with two stranded.

In the bottom of the second the rain returned starting as a light drizzle until the game was halted again with one out in the top of the third inning and a runner on second. The delay was just 16 minute and Morrill earned a walk to put runners on first and second on the re-start. The Eagles, however, could not add to their lead as the Mountaineers got out of the jam.

Miles tossed one of her best outings of the season, going five and a third innings allowing just three hits. She left the game with runners on second and third with her shutout still intact, making way for Brooke Red (Warner Robins, Ga.). Red got a flyout for the second out of the inning. A ground ball to shortstop ended the game and gave Red her first career save. Miles earned the win to go to 4-5.

Sunday's series finale is set for a 1 p.m. start from Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium in Boone.

Fans can follow their Eagles at GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com or receive short updates at facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics or on Google+ at gplus.to/GSAthletics.

Category: Softball

Published on Saturday, 21 April 2012 16:51