Softball | 3/2/2017 2:00:00 PM

TOURNAMENT SITE

ON THE DIAMOND
The Georgia Southern softball team returns home to host the Eagle Classic in Statesboro. Five teams will join the Eagles at Eagle Field this weekend for 14 games over a three-day span. Action kicks off each day at 9:30 a.m. Georgia Southern will open with Eastern Kentucky at 5:30 p.m. on Friday and will then play Marshall (3:30 p.m.) and South Carolina State (5:30 p.m.) on Saturday. On Sunday, GS will take on Delaware State at 1:30 p.m., followed by Presbyterian at 3:30 p.m..

FACILITY AND TICKET INFO
All games will be played at Eagle Field on the campus of Georgia Southern. The address is 615 Fair Rd, Statesboro, GA 30458. Admission is free.

Here's the tournament site, which has the schedule and live stat links. All five of Georgia Southern's games will be streamed live through Eagles All-Access.

PROMOTIONS
3/3 vs. Eastern Kentucky (5:30 p.m.)
• Rec Department Weekend: Rec Department kids are invited to come out to the games, and select kids will be invited to stand with the team during the national anthem, throw out the first pitch, and make a PA read.

3/4 vs. Marshall and South Carolina State (3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.)
• Rec Department Weekend

3/5 vs. Delaware State and Presbyterian (1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.)
• Rec Department Weekend
• Sunday Funday

For the entire year's promotions, go to: http://gseagles.com/sports/2016/2/18/BSB_0218160736.aspx

THE WEEKEND FORECAST
Here's the forecast for Statesboro. Be sure to follow Georgia Southern softball on Twitter (@GSAthletics_SB) for any potential schedule changes this weekend due to the weather or other factors.

SCOUTING DELAWARE STATE
Delaware State opened its season at the USC Upstate Tournament, going 0-4. Tough pitching got the best of the Hornets as they managed to score only two runs in the four games they played. Junior Khaliyah Flournory scored one of those runs and currently leads the team this season with a batting average of .300. She also has a a .364 on base percentage and has been a starter in all of Delaware State's games this season. Another top hitter for the Hornets has been junior Vanessa Washington, who has earned a slugging percentage of .300 and an on base percentage of .273. 

In the circle for DSU, Jessica Shalongo has pitched in two of the four games played, keeping an impressive 1.42 ERA. Delaware State has high expectations this season after being picked to win its fourth Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Northern Division softball title in a row. 

The Eagles and Hornets are meeting for the first time since 2003, and Georgia Southern holds a 4-0 all- time record over Delaware State.

SCOUTING EASTERN KENTUCKY
Eastern Kentucky University is coming into the Eagle Classic Tournament with an overall record of 3-7. The Colonels have played in two tournaments so far, closing out their last one on a winning note at the Winthrop Invitational. Leading Eastern Kentucky is Rachel Minogue who is hitting .444. Minogue has started all 10 games, has a fielding percentage of .986 and an on base percentage of .579. Another standout on the roster is freshman outfielder Mia Sanchez, who is batting .364. Sanchez has 12 hits on the year so far and has started every game.

Senior pitcher Alex Sallberg is maintaining a 2.37 ERA and has gotten the start in five of the Colonels' games and has appeared in seven. Last year Sallberg ranked second in the country with eight saves on the year. Accompanying her on the pitching staff is freshman Mollie Paulick, who is has started her college career with a 1.10 ERA, starting in three games and appearing in eight. The EKU softball team was picked to finish third in the Ohio Valley Conference. 

The Eagles and the Colonels have met twice, sharing a 1-1 overall record. Last year, the Eagles beat EKU in a close game in Statesboro.

SCOUTING MARSHALL
Marshall comes to Statesboro for its final trip of the four-preseason tournaments. So far the Thundering Herd has gone 9-4 this season. Marshall has a few players this year batting over .300, but the team leader is junior infielder Elicia D'Orazio, who's hitting .440 and has a .942 fielding percentage. D'Orazio has started in all 13 of Marshall's games, has 22 hits on the year, and 18 stolen bases under her belt. Next on the leader board is Morgan Zerkie who is batting .386, and also has 13 starts this season.

In the circle for the Thundering Herd is Jordan Dixon who posted a 2.67 ERA and has started eight games. Dixon is Marshall's all-time leader in career strikeouts (821) and was the first pitcher in team history with three seasons of 200 or more strikeouts. 

Marshall owns a 16-7 all-time record over Georgia Southern. The two teams will be meeting for the first time since 2012.

SCOUTING PRESBYTERIAN
Presbyterian College has started the season with an overall record of 6-9. The Blue Hose had a successful week, winning four of their last five games in South Carolina. Among their top players is sophomore infielder Megan Anderson who is hitting .324 this season and has an on base percentage of .435. Anderson has 12 hits on the year and four runs batted in. Hope Rogers is another top player for Presbyterian this season, batting .262 with a .500 slugging percentage. Rogers has 11 hits on the year and leads the team in RBIs with 10 so far.

In the circle for the Blue Hose is junior Alex Cook pitching a 1.91 ERA and making five appearances this season. Kaylee Allen is another one to watch with a 4.05 ERA and eight appearances under her belt this season. 

Presbyterian and Georgia Southern have competed a total of four times and split a 2-2 overall record.

SCOUTING SOUTH CAROLINA STATE
South Carolina State comes into this tournament with an overall record of 0-14. The Bulldogs welcomed 10 newcomers to this year's roster and will have to rely on the leadership of their two seniors, third base/pitcher Unique Whitehurst and utility player Tamaya McQueary. Sophomore outfielder Rickary Holloman leads the team this season batting .313 in 16 at bats. Holloman has yet to make any errors in the field, earning a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage so far. Deanna Sullivan is also off to a strong start this year, batting .273 and leading the team in hits with a total of nine. Sullivan's fielding percentage is at an impressive .886, and she also leads the team in slugging percentage (.455), RBIs (9), doubles (3) and home runs (1).

Georgia Southern holds a 14-0 record over SC State, shutting out the Bulldogs all but three times in the 14-game history.

UP NEXT
Next weekend, the Eagles open Sun Belt Conference play at home, hosting Troy in a three-game set at Eagle Field.

RANDOM STATS AND NOTES
Career Games Started - by position (active)
Emily Snider: 178 total - 100 LF; 37 CF; 34 RF; 7 3B
Morgan Robinson: 175 total - 175 1B
Alesha Mann: 120 total - 81 SS; 32 2B; 7 DP
Hannah Farrell: 71 total - 66 3B; 5 DP 
Lydia Witkowski: 69 total - 64 LF; 3 2B; 2 CF
India Davis: 60 total - 58 2B; 1 SS; 1 RF
Michelle Mazur: 57 total - 42 3B; 9 RF; 3 DP; 2 2B; 1 C
Kierra Camp: 48 total - 48 P
Dixie Raley: 42 total - 42 P
Heather Felt: 16 total - 16 P
Macy Weeks: 28 total - 14 DP; 7 RF; 7 LF
Haley Carter: 22 total - 14 OF; 8 DP
Mekhia Freeman: 10 total - 6 2B; 3 DP; 1 OF
Abby Broome: 9 total - 9 C
Shelby Wilson: 9 total - 5 3B; 4 DP
Andrea McKenzie: 4 total - 4 C
Meredith McLendon: 3 total - 3 SS

EAGLES BY STATE (20)
Georgia: 17
Florida: 1
Illinois: 1
Tennessee: 1

EAGLES BY CLASS (20)
Seniors: 5
Juniors: 5
Sophomores: 5 (2 redshirt)
Freshmen: 5