Eagles Scare No. 3 Georgia, Fall 4-1
4/21/2011 2:32:00 AM | Softball
ATHENS, Ga. - Georgia Southern Softball (25-24, 13-5 SoCon) took third-ranked Georgia (40-6, 14-5 SEC) to the brink on Wednesday night (April 20th) at Jack Turner Stadium. The Eagles led early in the game, but runs in the second and sixth innings for the Bulldogs gave the hosts a 4-1 win. Kayla Brooks (Jonesboro, Ga.) was 2-for-3 in the game and drove in Georgia Southern's run. The Eagles out-hit the high-powered Georgia offense, 6-3.
"Georgia is an extremely strong team," said Head Coach Maggie Johnson. "We were able to hold them to a close game tonight. We put forth a great pitching and defensive effort and we look forward to playing Georgia again."
The Eagles had a chance to tie the game in the seventh inning when Kelly Burnett (Boynton Beach, Fla.) hit a would-be game-tying home run off the left field wall. The Eagles, however, were unable to score any runs in the inning to cut into the 4-1 Georgia lead.
Senior Brianna Streetmon (Winder, Ga.) held the high-scoring Georgia offense in check all night. The Bulldogs scored four runs, well below their season average of 7.09 runs per game. Streetmon allowed just three hits in the game and stuck out six batters.
The Eagles took advantage of a first-inning leadoff walk to Marie Fogle (Rincon, Ga.) and a two-out throwing error by the Georgia pitcher to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning. With runners on the corners, Brooks slapped a chopper over the shortstop's head. The ball bounded into left field, allowing Fogle to stride home for the game's first run.
Georgia took the lead in the third frame with a two-out single by Alisa Goler. The Bulldogs put runners on second and third with no outs in the inning, but Streetmon struck out the next two batters. Goler rifled a ball down the third base line which glanced off Andrea Tarashuk's (Flemington, N.J.) glove and into the outfield. Two runs crossed home plate on the play as Georgia pulled ahead 2-1.
With two down in the bottom of the sixth, Georgia tacked on two more runs. Taylor Schlopy scored from third base on Julia Echols' single. Pinch runner Macie Couey scored later in the inning from second base on a Georgia Southern fielding error. The Eagles got out of the inning when Schlopy was cut down trying to advance to third base. With the two runs, UGA extended its lead to 4-1 through six complete innings.
In the seventh frame, Brooks slapped her second base hit of the game, followed by a soft liner up the middle by Tarashuk to put runners on first and second. Burnett ripped a ball off the left field fence with one out, but Brooks was thrown out at home for the second out of the inning. The Bulldogs retired the Eagle side with a ground out.
Georgia Southern returns home this weekend for its final home regular-season series of the season. The Eagles play host to UNC Greensboro on Friday (April 22nd) at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. The series concludes on Saturday (April 23rd) at 1 p.m. Georgia Southern will honor its seniors Kelly Burnett, Bethany Crenshaw, Megen Smith and Brianna Streetmon.
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.
