Softball Takes on Furman
4/15/2011 2:43:00 PM | Softball
STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern Softball (22-23, 10-5 SoCon) goes for its seventh consecutive series win over the Furman Paladins (13-21, 6-6 SoCon) this weekend at Eagle Field. The 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday, April 16th, will feature a free tailgate between games. On Sunday, April 17th, the teams close the three-game set with a single game starting at 1 p.m.
The Eagles look to rebound after dropping their first conference series of the season to Elon last weekend. Junior Mackenzie Williams (Baxley, Ga.) had two home runs in the series, including a seventh-inning shot that forced extra innings in game two. Senior Megen Smith (Springfield, Ga.) hit .500 in the series to lead the team at the plate. In the pitching circle, Smith tossed six and a third innings of shutout relief in game one to earn her second victory of the season, fanning six with no walks.
Georgia Southern ranks second in the Southern Conference in home runs with 37, just one behind league leader Chattanooga. Junior Marie Fogle (Rincon, Ga.) has 13 home runs to lead the league and ranks 14th in the nation. Smith (8) and Williams (7) are fourth and seventh in the SoCon, respectively, in the home run category.
The Eagle pitching staff, led by freshman Allie Miles (Dacula, Ga.) and senior Brianna Streetmon (Winder, Ga.), has struck out more batters, 259, than any other SoCon staff. Miles ranks second in the league with 116 strikeouts while Streetmon has 88. GSU's right-hander, Miles, has baffled opposing batters, holding them to a league-low .218 batting average. Her 10 wins in the circle are the third highest in the SoCon.
Georgia Southern Softball has had its most success all-time against the Paladins. With a 49-37 record, the Eagles have defeated Furman more than any other opponent. Over the last six years, the Eagles are 15-3 against Furman in the regular season.
Last season, Furman senior pitcher Lana Mackey took game one with a 4-1 victory. The Eagles clawed back to win the series 4-1 and 3-2 and close the 2010 regular season. Smith was .571 in the series with a pair of home runs to deliver the series win.
Furman has lost six of its last eight including a pair of games to College of Charleston last weekend in Greenville, S.C. The Paladins are led by Morgan Hughey at the plate with a .398 average and 22 RBI. Furman has a duo of pitchers who have gone over 100 innings in the circle. Kayla Suskauer has a 2.69 ERA with an 8-6 record over 106.2 innings while Lauren Collier has five wins in 115.1 innings and 58 strikeouts.
Justin Baker and Drew Cheshire's live call of every Georgia Southern Softball game can be heard on 91.9 The Buzz and seen on Eagle Vision for free this year. To watch the stream, please visit GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com/Eaglevision.
Hot dogs and hamburgers will be the fare at the free tailgate for Eagle Softball fans on Saturday (April 16th) between games of the doubleheader. The centerfield tailgate party begins at 2:30 p.m and will last for approximately an hour or until all the food has been eaten.
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.
