Eagles Open UCF Tournament with Split
3/6/2010 4:19:00 AM | Softball
ORLANDO, Fla. – Georgia Southern resumed its 2010 campaign with an opening day split at the UCF Tournament.
Georgia Southern began the tournament opening against Providence. The Friars struck first plating one run in the top half of the first off a Teresa Bartels fielder's choice. Georgia Southern would respond with two runs in the bottom half of the second inning. Jenny Side (Loganville, Ga.) got the Eagles rolling with a double to left center. Alexa Lewis, pinch running for Side, advanced to third on a sacrifice by Eagles second baseman Hanna Ennis (Snellville, Ga.). Kelly Burnett (Boynton Beach, Fla.) reached base on a walk and stole second, putting two Eagles in scoring position. A wild pitch by Friars pitcher Julie Fowler advanced Burnett to third and brought Lewis in to tie the game. Florida Gulf Coast Tournament MVP Nina Iduate (Norcross, Ga.) singled thru the left side bringing in Burnett.
Providence would tie the ballgame at two runs in the top of the fifth inning off a Michelle Huber single to right field. However, the Eagles again would have an answer. Megen Smith (Springfield, Ga.) opened the bottom of the fifth inning with a double to right center. Side would drive in Smith from second, the game winner, on a single to right field as the Eagles downed Providence 3-2.
Georgia Southern had a quick turn around. Playing 30 minutes after their first game, the Eagles struggled to find an answer to Harvard pitcher Rachel Brown. Brown would strike out 15 of the 27 Eagle batters she faced. However, Eagle pitcher Brianna Streetmon (Winder, Ga.) was just as brilliant. Streetmon allowed only three hits while striking out seven to continue to build on her strong performance from the Florida Gulf Coast Tournament. Streetmon has now gone nine and two- thirds innings without allowing an earned run.
Georgia Southern returns to action at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. It opens play for the day against Southern Conference opponent College of Charleston then returns for the night cap at 8 p.m. against Boston College.
