Eagles Slug Four Home Runs in 12-3 Thrashing of Western Carolina
3/20/2011 8:30:00 PM | Softball
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Georgia Southern Softball (13-17, 5-1 SoCon) posted its best day at the plate of the season en route to a 12-3 rout of Western Carolina (13-15, 0-6 SoCon) on Sunday (March 20th) to take the series sweep over the Catamounts. The Eagles bashed a season-high 16 hits, including four home runs.
"This was a great way to finish off the series against Western Carolina," said Head Coach Maggie Johnson. "The bats really came alive for us today. Games like this help build confidence for the rest of the season."
The Eagles pounced on the Catamounts in the opening frame by touching Western Carolina for three runs off four hits. Marie Fogle (Rincon, Ga.), who went 3-4 with six RBIs and three runs on the day, started the game by lacing a single up the middle. Andrea Tarashuk's (Flemington, N.J.) single through the right side plated two more runs to give the Eagles an early 3-0 lead.
Western Carolina clawed back to score a run in the bottom of the first when a line drive with two runners on reached the fence in centerfield. The throw to the plate was cut off just feet from third base allowing the Eagles make the tag on the WCU runner who had overrun the bag. The Eagles held a 3-1 lead after an inning of play.
Georgia Southern threatened again in the second with all three outs in the inning recorded on sky-high fly outs to the warning track. In the bottom of the inning, the Catamounts tied the game, 3-3, by taking advantage of a pair of Georgia Southern fielding errors in the frame.
The score didn't remain tied for long because senior Megen Smith (Springfield, Ga.) parked a ball over the right-centerfield fence to give the Eagles a 4-3 lead. Consecutive base hits for GSU forced a pitching change for Western Carolina. A single by Tabby Douberley (Clyo, Ga.) put the Eagles up 5-3.
Later in the inning, with the bases loaded, Fogle ripped her third home run of the weekend over the centerfield fence for Georgia Southern's first grand slam of the season. It was also the first grand slam for the Eagles since Robyne Siliga's grand slam against Oakland on February 23rd, 2008. The six-run frame gave the Eagles a commanding 9-3 lead.
After a quiet fourth inning for both sides, Fogle went yard again in the top of the fifth with a two-run long-ball to centerfield. The home run was her 10th of the season as she went deep in back-to-back at bats for the first time this season. Junior Hanna Ennis (Snellville, Ga.) got in on the action with a solo home run down the left field line. The back-to-back home runs pushed the Eagles' lead to 12-3.
Starting pitcher Brianna Streetmon (Winder, Ga.) worked the first three innings to pick up her second win of the series and her seventh of the year. She allowed just two hits and was charged with two earned runs. Freshman Allie Miles (Dacula, Ga.) tossed the final two innings, allowing just one hit with two strikeouts.
Georgia Southern plays a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon at North Florida with the first game starting at 4 p.m. in Jacksonville, Fla. GSU returns to SoCon play next weekend at College of Charleston.
Fans may follow all the action of the 2011 Georgia Southern Softball season by visiting GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com/softball or check in for scores at twitter.com/GSScores or facebook.com/GSAthletics for updates.
