Georgia Southern Sweeps Western Carolina
3/21/2010 1:27:00 AM | Softball
STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern (15-9, 4-1 SoCon) swept Southern Conference foe Western Carolina during Saturday's doubleheader at Eagle Field. The Eagles downed the Catamounts 2-1 in Game 1 and 4-3 in 10 innings in Game 2.
The Eagles found an unlikely hero in Game 1, as freshman Andrea Tarashuk (Flemington, N.J.) hit a walk- off bloop single over Catamounts second baseman Amber Hawkins, driving in the winning runs. Before Tarashuk's single, the Eagles trailed Western Carolina 1-0. The Eagles relied on another strong outing from Southern Conference Pitcher of the Week Brianna Streetmon (Winder, Ga.). Streetmon (9-3) pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing only three hits and one unearned run while striking out four and walking none.
In Game 2, Georgia Southern jumped out to a 3-0 lead on Western Carolina. Jenny Side (Loganville, Ga.) hit her third home run of the season to left field in the second inning. In the third, the Eagles went back to work offensively. Kelly Burnett (Boynton Beach, Fla.) doubled to right center. Megen Smith (Springfield, Ga.) homered to right center to extend the Eagles lead to three. The Eagles lead would evaporate over the middle innings. A double drove in one WCU run in the fourth and a single up the middle in the sixth by Colby Liles drove in the game-tying runs. Neither team could find the game winning runs in regulation or in the first two innings of extra play.
In Southern Conference play, International Tie Breaker rules are used beginning in the 10th inning. Streetmon (10-3) managed to work out of the inning without allowing the runner placed at second to score. In the bottom of the 10th, Stephanie Peet (Lawrenceville, Ga.) was placed on second base. Lowes Senior CLASS Award nominee Nina Iduate (Norcross, Ga.) was intentionally walked to put runners on first and second. Burnett singled to right field advancing Iduate to third. Peet, though, would be thrown out at home plate. The Catamount intentionally walked Smith to pitch to Sam Russo (Snellville, Ga.). Russo's sacrifice fly to center field would bring in the game- winning run as Iduate beat the throw home.
Georgia Southern completes the three- game series with Western Carolina on Sunday. The game time for Sunday's matchup has been moved up to 12 p.m. due to the threat of rain Sunday afternoon in Statesboro.
All Georgia Southern home games can be heard locally on 91.9 FM, The Buzz, with announcers Daniel Sallerson and Justin Baker. Live stats are also available for Georgia Southern games on the official website of the Eagles, www.GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com, by clicking on the Live Stats link at the bottom of the home page.
