Eagles Split At Samford

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Georgia Southern) - The Eagles snapped a six-game losing skid, taking a 1-0 victory over Samford, before falling 6-5 in eight innings in game two.

Brianna Streetmon held the Bulldogs (12-26, 3-11 Southern Conference) to just two hits in seven innings in the first game. The junior improved to 15-7 on the year, striking out six with no walks.

The Eagles (21-20, 7-6 SoCon) scored what proved to be the winning run in the top of the first inning. Nina Iduate slapped a ball to the shortstop, and advanced to second on an errant throw. Kelly Burnett drove a double to leftfield for the RBI.

Emily Waters (1-2) was charged with the loss, allowing one run, unearned, on two hits with three strikeouts and two walks in 4.1 innings.

In the second game, the Bulldogs scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning before the Eagle offense found some momentum. Sam Russo hit a solo home run to centerfield in the top of the fourth, cutting the lead to 3-1.

Samford tacked on another run in the bottom of the fifth, but it was Russo coming through for the Eagles in the top of the sixth inning. After Megen Smith singled to lead off the inning and Jenny Side walked, Russo hit her second home run, a shot to leftfield, tying the game 4-4.

With two outs in the sixth, the Eagles took their first lead of the game on an Iduate RBI-single over the head of the shortstop, scoring Andrea Tarashuk, who reached on an error, to go on top 5-4.

The Bulldogs capitalized on the Eagles' fifth error of the game in the bottom of the sixth, tying the game on an RBI-single by Anna Kimbell.

It was Kimbell who came through with the game-winning hit for the Bulldogs in the bottom of the eighth inning, hitting an RBI-single to leftfield to score Amanda Jordan, who led off with a double.

Streetmon (15-8) was charged with the loss, giving up two runs, one earned, on five hits with a strikeout in 2.2 innings of relief. Smith went five innings, allowing four runs, two earned, on five hits with two strikeouts and two walks.

Kayla Burris (1-1) earned the win, holding the Eagles to one unearned run on one hit with two strikeouts in three innings of relief.

The Eagles and Bulldogs will play game three of the series Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

Category: Softball

Published on Saturday, 17 April 2010 21:23