Eagles Head to Baton Rouge For Purple & Gold Challenge
2/16/2017 9:37:00 AM | Softball
GS to take on No. 7 LSU, Central Arkansas
TOURNEY WEBSITE
ON THE DIAMOND
The Georgia Southern softball team travels to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for the Purple & Gold Challenge. The Eagles will play two games against No. 7 LSU and two games against Central Arkansas over three days at Tiger Park. The Eagles will open up against the host Tigers on Friday night at 6 p.m. Central (7 p.m. ET) and then will play UCA on Saturday at noon Central (1 p.m. ET) and then LSU again at 2:30 p.m. Central (3:30 p.m. ET). GS will wrap up the weekend on Sunday with a single game against Central Arkansas at 10:30 a.m. Central (11:30 a.m. ET).
FACILITY AND TICKET INFO
All games will be played at Tiger Park on the campus of LSU. The facility is located on Skip Bertman Drive. Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for kids and for groups. You can buy tickets online at lsutix.net.
The tournament website can be found here, which includes links to live stats, tickets and directions.
THE ALL-TIME SERIES VS. THIS WEEKEND'S OPPONENTS
Georgia Southern doesn't have much of a history against either one of the teams it is playing this weekend. The Eagles have never played Central Arkansas and are 0-2 all-time against LSU. GS and LSU played a doubleheader in Baton Rouge in 2013 with the Tigers sweeping 8-0 and 3-2.
SCOUTING CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Overall: 1-5
Central Arkansas had a tough opening weekend, going 0-5 at the Sand Dollar Classic, but got a strong 10-2 run-rule win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff Wednesday evening at home. The Bears fell to South Alabama and Jacksonville State twice and Alabama State last weekend.
Kate Myers is hitting .438 in six games and Kaylyn Shepherd is hitting .300 for an offense that is hitting .184 early on.
In the circle, Ellie Reeves leads the way with a 1.94 ERA in 18.0 innings pitched. Kayla Gomness has thrown 13.0 innings, but is 0-3 with a 8.08 ERA.
SCOUTING LSU
Overall: 5-1
The seventh-ranked Tigers are coming off a 5-0 win over Louisiana Tech Wednesday evening in which Carly Hoover tossed her second career no-hitter. LSU went 4-1 at its home tournament last weekend, downing Oklahoma State, McNeese State, Penn State and Oklahoma State. The Tigers' lone setback was a 7-3 loss to Penn State.
Sydney Springfield and Sahvanna Jaquish are off to a hot start at the plate, both hitting .588. LSU only has one home run through six games, but is hitting .395 as a team with six players hitting .380 or higher. Hoover is 1-0 with 26 strikeouts and a 1.68 ERA in 16.2 innings while Sydney Smith is 2-0 with a 1.56 ERA and five strikeouts in 9.0 innings. Allie Walljasper is 2-0 with a 2.10 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 10.0 innings pitched.
IN LOUISIANA
The Eagles are 2-6 all-time in the state of Louisiana, going 0-3 all-time at Louisiana, 0-2 at LSU and 2-1 at ULM.
AGAINST LOUISIANA TEAMS
Georgia Southern is 6-18 all-time against teams from the state of Louisiana. The Eagles are 1-0 against Nichols State, 1-1 against McNeese State, 1-2 vs. Louisiana Tech, 0-2 against LSU, 2-6 against ULM and 1-7 against Louisiana.
ON THE DIAMOND
The Georgia Southern softball team travels to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for the Purple & Gold Challenge. The Eagles will play two games against No. 7 LSU and two games against Central Arkansas over three days at Tiger Park. The Eagles will open up against the host Tigers on Friday night at 6 p.m. Central (7 p.m. ET) and then will play UCA on Saturday at noon Central (1 p.m. ET) and then LSU again at 2:30 p.m. Central (3:30 p.m. ET). GS will wrap up the weekend on Sunday with a single game against Central Arkansas at 10:30 a.m. Central (11:30 a.m. ET).
FACILITY AND TICKET INFO
All games will be played at Tiger Park on the campus of LSU. The facility is located on Skip Bertman Drive. Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for kids and for groups. You can buy tickets online at lsutix.net.
The tournament website can be found here, which includes links to live stats, tickets and directions.
THE ALL-TIME SERIES VS. THIS WEEKEND'S OPPONENTS
Georgia Southern doesn't have much of a history against either one of the teams it is playing this weekend. The Eagles have never played Central Arkansas and are 0-2 all-time against LSU. GS and LSU played a doubleheader in Baton Rouge in 2013 with the Tigers sweeping 8-0 and 3-2.
SCOUTING CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Overall: 1-5
Central Arkansas had a tough opening weekend, going 0-5 at the Sand Dollar Classic, but got a strong 10-2 run-rule win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff Wednesday evening at home. The Bears fell to South Alabama and Jacksonville State twice and Alabama State last weekend.
Kate Myers is hitting .438 in six games and Kaylyn Shepherd is hitting .300 for an offense that is hitting .184 early on.
In the circle, Ellie Reeves leads the way with a 1.94 ERA in 18.0 innings pitched. Kayla Gomness has thrown 13.0 innings, but is 0-3 with a 8.08 ERA.
SCOUTING LSU
Overall: 5-1
The seventh-ranked Tigers are coming off a 5-0 win over Louisiana Tech Wednesday evening in which Carly Hoover tossed her second career no-hitter. LSU went 4-1 at its home tournament last weekend, downing Oklahoma State, McNeese State, Penn State and Oklahoma State. The Tigers' lone setback was a 7-3 loss to Penn State.
Sydney Springfield and Sahvanna Jaquish are off to a hot start at the plate, both hitting .588. LSU only has one home run through six games, but is hitting .395 as a team with six players hitting .380 or higher. Hoover is 1-0 with 26 strikeouts and a 1.68 ERA in 16.2 innings while Sydney Smith is 2-0 with a 1.56 ERA and five strikeouts in 9.0 innings. Allie Walljasper is 2-0 with a 2.10 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 10.0 innings pitched.
IN LOUISIANA
The Eagles are 2-6 all-time in the state of Louisiana, going 0-3 all-time at Louisiana, 0-2 at LSU and 2-1 at ULM.
AGAINST LOUISIANA TEAMS
Georgia Southern is 6-18 all-time against teams from the state of Louisiana. The Eagles are 1-0 against Nichols State, 1-1 against McNeese State, 1-2 vs. Louisiana Tech, 0-2 against LSU, 2-6 against ULM and 1-7 against Louisiana.
Georgia Southern Football Media Availability (12/15/25)
Monday, December 15
The GATA Zone - Episode 9 (Swimming and Diving)
Thursday, December 11
Clay Helton Media Availability: National Signing Day (12/3/25)
Thursday, December 04
Georgia Southern vs. Marshall Highlights (11/29/25)
Sunday, November 30















