STATESBORO, Ga. - On Tuesday, Megen Smith (Springfield, Ga.) was named Southern Conference Preseason Player of the Year. On Saturday, she began her senior campaign for Georgia Southern Softball by hitting two home runs, including in her first at bat of the season. Smith went two for three and drove in four runs in the opener as Georgia Southern won 7-5 in its season opener.
Georgia Southern jumped out to a two-run lead on Mercer in the first inning in Georgia Southern's season opener on back-to-back home runs by Smith and Mackenzie Williams (Baxley, Ga.). The Eagles would extend their lead to three in the bottom half of the second inning on a Hanna Ennis (Snellville, Ga.) double that drove in Kelly Burnett (Boynton Beach, Fla.).
Mercer would cut the deficit to one run after an Allison Jones single in the third brought in Anna Johnson and Lilli Luke doubled to right field to score Sara Stukes in the fourth inning. Smith extended the Eagles' slim one-run lead to four with her three-run blast to right center field allowing Marie Fogle (Rincon, Ga.) and Jorie Walker (Dublin, Ga.) to cross the plate.
Mercer would respond in the top of the sixth inning with three runs of its own. Mercer opened the sixth inning with back-to-back doubles. Amanda Santa Maria's double down the line with one out brought the Bears to within two runs. Santa Maria would score on a fielder's choice to end the Bears' scoring in the sixth inning. Georgia Southern would tack on another run in the bottom of the sixth inning as Andrea Tarashuk (Flemington, NJ) doubled down the left field line for the 7-5 final score.
Freshman Allie Miles (Dacula, Ga.) picked up the win in her Eagle debut, pitching two innings and striking out two. Southern Conference Preseason Pitcher of the Year Brianna Streetmon (Winder, Ga.) earned her first save of the season after pitching one and two- thirds innings, striking out one and giving up no hits.
In the nightcap of the first day of the SpringHill Suites Eagle Classic, Radford jumped out early on Georgia Southern scoring one run in the first inning and two in the second. Radford extended the lead to 7-0 in the fourth inning thanks in part to a two-run home run by Nichole Beall. Georgia Southern's offense was stymied by dazzling pitching from Radford's Chelsea Kelley and Stephaine Dameron, which limiting the Eagles to two hits.
Georgia Southern's lone bright spot was freshman pitcher Sarah Purvis (Warner Robins, Ga.), who pitched three and one-third innings, allowing no hits and striking out six. Purvis also struck out the side in the fifth inning.
Mercer 6 Radford 4
In game one of the SpringHill Suites Eagle Classic, Mercer opened the game with unearned runs in the first and third innings. Radford would answer with a solo home run by Meredith Moore to cut the Bears' lead to 2-1. Mercer would use a four- run fourth inning due in part to a two-run home run by Sara Stukes. Radford would answer with a two- run sixth inning on a Hannah Ojeda single. The Highlanders would again inch closer in the bottom of the seventh with a one run double down the left field line by Kristen Shifflett; however, they would be unable to plate the tying runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The 2011 SpringHill Suites Eagle Classic concludes tomorrow, Sunday, February 13th at Eagle Field. Georgia Southern opens the day's action versus Radford at 10 a.m. Radford will then complete its weekend slate against Mercer at 12:30 p.m. Georgia Southern and Mercer will conclude the weekend's games at 3 p.m.
Fans may follow all the action of the 2011 SpringHill Suites Eagle Classic by visiting GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com/softball or check in for scores at twitter.com/GSScores or facebook.com/GSAthletics for updates. Live stats and video are available at GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com.
