Williams' Walk-off Double Gives Eagles 3-2 Sunday Win

STATESBORO, Ga. - Mackenzie Williams delivered an RBI double in the bottom of the seventh to give Georgia Southern Softball a 3-2 win over Western Carolina, sweeping the weekend series at Eagle Field. Each team scored two runs in the first, but it was Williams' hit that gave GSU the run it needed to move to 17-10 overall and 6-0 in SoCon play. Western Carolina falls to 9-16 and 0-3 in the SoCon.

"Sweeping a conference series is a very hard thing to do and we are very happy to do it twice to open the year," said Head Coach Annie Smith. "Brooke Red pitched a great game for us today and battled back well after missing a few spots in the first inning. This weekend we got some clutch hits when we needed them and it is great to get a series win against a very good Western Carolina team."

Western Carolina struck first in the opening frame, taking advantage of a Georgia Southern fielding miscue to plate two runs off two hits for an early 2-0 lead. Both hits were hard hit liners down the right field line, but it was Kelly Bramen's two-RBI single that did the most damage.

The Eagles answered in the bottom of the first with runs of their own. After a pair of opening strikeouts, Marie Fogle (Rincon, Ga.) singled through the right side and stole second base. On the next play, the WCU third baseman sailed a throw over the first baseman's head, allowing Fogle to score easily. Andrea Tarashuk (Flemington, N.J.) hit a double off the wall in right to score Mackenzie Williams (Baxley, Ga.) and tie the game, 2-2.

Georgia Southern's defense was up to the challenge, setting a new season-high for double plays in a game, turning three in the first four innings, all to end the respective frames.

Both team went scoreless until the bottom of the seventh when the posted a run to win the game. Alexa Lewis (Lawrenceville, Ga.) worked a leadoff walk and reached third on a sacrifice bunt and a fly ball to left. Williams delivered the knockout blow with a double to the wall in centerfield, allowing Lewis to score easily and give GSU the 3-2 victory.

Freshman Brooke Red (Warner Robins, Ga.) went the distance for the Eagles to pick up her seventh win of the season and second of the series. She scattered two hits and was charged with one earned run, that coming in the first inning.

The Eagles go back on the road next weekend for a three-game series at Kennesaw State. Play begins on Saturday afternoon, March 24th, at 2 p.m. with a doubleheader.

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Category: Softball

Published on Sunday, 18 March 2012 15:34