Softball Returns to SoCon Play Against Samford
4/1/2011 3:30:00 PM | Softball
STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern Softball resumes its 2011 Southern Conference campaign on Saturday (April 3rd), opening a three-game series against Samford at Eagle Field. Saturday's game marks Georgia Southern's second-annual Breast Cancer Awareness Day to benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The doubleheader between the Eagles (17-20, 7-2 SoCon) and Bulldogs (7-27, 4-5 SoCon) starts at 1 p.m. The series concludes on Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Eagles are selling a special pink "Save Second Base" T-shirt with a proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The shirts are $15 and can be purchased at the game.
Georgia Southern and Samford meet for the 26th time in program history. The series dates back to 1988 when both teams were members of the New South Women's Athletic Conference (NSWAC). The Eagles' 1993 move to the Southern Conference made the series a non-conference affair until the 2009 season when Samford joined the SoCon. Georgia Southern leads the all-time series, 17-9 and 4-3 since the Bulldogs joined the SoCon.
Georgia Southern Head Softball Coach Maggie Johnson picked up her 75th career victory last weekend in Saturday's (March 26th) 4-3 triumph over College of Charleston. She is now 76-69 all-time with a 35-21 mark in SoCon games.
Senior Megen Smith (Springfield, Ga.) became the hero of Sunday's series finale against Charleston. The utility player hit a towering home run to give the Eagles the come-from-behind 6-5 victory. She posted her seventh home run of the season and ther 20th RBI of the year on that play.
SoCon Freshman of the Year Candidate Allie Miles (Dacula, Ga.) has mowed through opposing batters in the circle with 94 strikeouts, 35 over the last 10 games. Over that stretch, she is 4-0 in six appearances with a 1.48 ERA. Senior left-handed pitcher Brianna Streetmon (Winder, Ga.) has seven wins and 68 strikeouts this season.
Marie Fogle (Rincon, Ga.) paces the Georgia Southern offense with a .392 batting average and a .742 slugging percentage. The junior hit .441 in March with seven home runs and a .868 slugging percentage. Hanna Ennis (Snellville, Ga.) ranks second on the Eagles with a .301 batting average.
Samford's Thursday (March 31st) doubleheader against Belmont was canceled due to rain. The Bulldogs have lost their last three games including two losses to Kennesaw State and a loss in the series finale against Western Carolina.
In 21 appearances for the Bulldogs, Kayla Burns is 4-11 in the circle with a 5.34 ERA. She has struck out 56 batters in 94.1 innings while allowing 20 home runs. The Bulldogs are led on offense by Robyn Harmon's .351 average and three home runs. Amanda Jordan carries the power for Samford with six home runs, 13 RBI and a .221 average.
Following Sunday's series finale, Georgia Southern Softball will hold a free Little Eagles Softball Camp for children ages 4-12. The camp is open to the public and will start approximately 15 minutes after the game. Camp attendees will receive instruction on hitting, throwing, fielding and base running from the Georgia Southern coaching staff and Eagle players. Registration for the camp will begin at noon and continue throughout the game. For more information about the camp, please contact assistant coach Liz Beirne at (912) 478-0983.
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.
