Softball Sweeps Presbyterian
3/5/2008 5:24:00 AM | Softball
STATESBORO, Ga. --- Georgia Southern's school-record shutout streak ended but the Eagles got enough offense to sweep a softball doubleheader from Presbyterian Wednesday afternoon at Eagle Field.
The wins (3-0 in game one and 3-2 in game two) are Georgia Southern's seventh straight, the longest by the program since 2004, and improve the team's record to 16-10. Presbyterian drops to 7-10.
“I thought we did a good job of coming out in a midweek (game),” said GSU head coach Natalie Poole. “Sometimes we struggle with that and drop games that we shouldn't. So I thought we did a good job of getting two wins even though offensively we didn't put up a lot of runs.”
Senior Melissa Laliberte (Cobourg, Ontario, Canada) shut down the PC offense on three hits in game one. She struck out 10 and walked four to record the team's sixth consecutive shutout, extending the school record.
“Mel did a good job of giving us a chance to win and keeping them scoreless,” said Poole. “She struggled a little bit with the umpire in terms of finding the zone. (But) I thought that she stayed focused and found ways to throw strikes.”
The Eagles put single runs across in innings one, two and five. Sophomore Lindsey Hopkins (McDonough, Ga.) recorded two hits in four at bats and scored a run. Junior Robyne Siliga (Oceanside, Calif.) went 2-for-2 at the plate.
GSU went on top 2-0 through four in game two on RBI singles from sophomore Jenny Side (Loganville, Ga.) and junior Michelle Beasley (Metter, Ga.).
The Blue Hose were finally able to dent the scoreboard in the sixth on back-to-back walks and a single from Jenny Box. Both walks and hit came with two out. The run allowed was GSU's first in 48 innings, dating back to a 4-1 loss to Minnesota on Feb. 24.
Georgia Southern got a much-needed insurance run in its half of the sixth thanks to a RBI triple from sophomore Nina Iduate (Norcross, Ga.). Presbyterian answered with an unearned run in the seventh but Side threw out pinch-runner Morgan White at third to end the game.
The Eagles won despite leaving 10 runners on base.
“It was a little but frustrating to see 10 people left on base,” Poole said. “We had a couple of key hits to score some runs throughout the game. We should have done a better job ? I think we chased some pitches out of the zone, we were down in the count. But we did come up with a few timely hits and put together enough to help us win.”
Freshman Megen Smith (Springfield, Ga.) earned the win (7-2) and allowed six hits and one earned run.
The Eagles return to action this weekend when they compete in the War Eagle Classic hosted by Auburn. Play begins Friday at 4 p.m. EST.
The wins (3-0 in game one and 3-2 in game two) are Georgia Southern's seventh straight, the longest by the program since 2004, and improve the team's record to 16-10. Presbyterian drops to 7-10.
“I thought we did a good job of coming out in a midweek (game),” said GSU head coach Natalie Poole. “Sometimes we struggle with that and drop games that we shouldn't. So I thought we did a good job of getting two wins even though offensively we didn't put up a lot of runs.”
Senior Melissa Laliberte (Cobourg, Ontario, Canada) shut down the PC offense on three hits in game one. She struck out 10 and walked four to record the team's sixth consecutive shutout, extending the school record.
“Mel did a good job of giving us a chance to win and keeping them scoreless,” said Poole. “She struggled a little bit with the umpire in terms of finding the zone. (But) I thought that she stayed focused and found ways to throw strikes.”
The Eagles put single runs across in innings one, two and five. Sophomore Lindsey Hopkins (McDonough, Ga.) recorded two hits in four at bats and scored a run. Junior Robyne Siliga (Oceanside, Calif.) went 2-for-2 at the plate.
GSU went on top 2-0 through four in game two on RBI singles from sophomore Jenny Side (Loganville, Ga.) and junior Michelle Beasley (Metter, Ga.).
The Blue Hose were finally able to dent the scoreboard in the sixth on back-to-back walks and a single from Jenny Box. Both walks and hit came with two out. The run allowed was GSU's first in 48 innings, dating back to a 4-1 loss to Minnesota on Feb. 24.
Georgia Southern got a much-needed insurance run in its half of the sixth thanks to a RBI triple from sophomore Nina Iduate (Norcross, Ga.). Presbyterian answered with an unearned run in the seventh but Side threw out pinch-runner Morgan White at third to end the game.
The Eagles won despite leaving 10 runners on base.
“It was a little but frustrating to see 10 people left on base,” Poole said. “We had a couple of key hits to score some runs throughout the game. We should have done a better job ? I think we chased some pitches out of the zone, we were down in the count. But we did come up with a few timely hits and put together enough to help us win.”
Freshman Megen Smith (Springfield, Ga.) earned the win (7-2) and allowed six hits and one earned run.
The Eagles return to action this weekend when they compete in the War Eagle Classic hosted by Auburn. Play begins Friday at 4 p.m. EST.
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