HIGHLIGHTS:•
Alesha Mann had a three-RBI double and a two-run home run
•
Dixie Raley had a career-high 11 strikeouts
• The Eagles scored six runs in the top of the first inning
CONWAY, S.C. –The Georgia Southern softball team scored early and often to wrap up play Sunday at the Coastal Carolina Invitational with an 8-4 win over the host Chanticleers.
The Eagles erupted for six runs in the top of the first inning, chasing CCU's starting pitcher after 36 pitches.
Lydia Witkowski reached on an infield single and the flood gates opened from there.
Morgan Robinson drew a bases-loaded walk to plate the first run and then
Taylor Rogers scored on a passed ball.
Hannah Farrell drove in Robinson with a sharp single to right field to make it 3-0 and then Mann cleared the bags with a double to the gap to make it 6-0.
In the seventh inning,
A.J. Hamilton singled and did the slow trot home on Mann's monstrous home run to dead center field to make it 8-0. Coastal finally got on the board in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring four runs, but it wasn't enough.
Dixie Raley (W, 6-3) was dominant in the circle. The freshman tossed a complete game, allowing four runs – all in the final inning – on six hits with three walks while striking out a career-high 11 batters.
At the plate, Mann led the way going 3-for-4 to compliment her five RBI. Farrell, Witkowski and
Emily Snider all had a two hits while Hamilton had one.
GS (8-7) will host the Eagle Classic next weekend in Statesboro, welcoming Eastern Kentucky, Harvard and North Dakota to town. Play starts on Friday at 2 p.m. with EKU and North Dakota, followed by the Eagles and North Dakota at 4:30 p.m.
SMITH SAYS:
"This was a great team win. I thought the bottom half of the order, particularly Alesha and Hannah, had really nice days. Alesha had a great day today with five RBI and had a great at bat at the end for a home run to help close the game for us. Dixie did such a nice job with 11 strikeouts and pitched well. Defensively, we made some nice plays early on to help her out and that set the tone. I'm just really happy that we competed up and down."
