Softball Cruises Past UNCG for Series Sweep
4/23/2011 9:04:00 PM | Softball
STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern Softball (28-24, 16-5 SoCon) sent its senior class out in style with a 7-2 win over UNCG (19-27, 7-11 SoCon) to close the 2011 regular-season home schedule. Kayla Brooks (Jonesboro, Ga.) led the Eagle offensive attack with a 3-for-3 day at the plate which included her scoring two runs. The pitching staff combined to scatter five hits as the Eagles swept their third three-game series of the season.
"We had a specific goal when we stepped on the field today and we kept our focus well enough to reach it," said Head Coach Maggie Johnson. "Congratulations to our seniors who we honored today. These four have meant a great deal to the program and their dedication is fully appreciated."
Prior to the game, seniors Kelly Burnett (Boynton Beach, Fla.), Bethany Crenshaw (Warner robins, Ga.), Megen Smith (Springfield, Ga.) and Brianna Streetmon (Winder, Ga.) were honored for their contributions to Eagle Athletics. Georgia Southern University President Dr. Brooks A. Keel was on hand to throw out the game's ceremonial first pitch.
Georgia Southern broke a 2-2 tie in the second inning and surged ahead for the win with five hits in the third and fourth innings for the victory. Brooks raised her batting average to .441 on the season and was .727 (8-for-11 on the week. Hanna Ennis (Snellville, Ga.) drove in two runs and punched her 12th double of the season in a 2-for-4 day. Defending Southern Conference Player of the Week Mackenzie Williams (Baxley, Ga.) was 2-for-3 with a walk and a double to close out the series.
Streetmon got the start for the Eagles and was strong in the circle. She threw three innings, allowing two runs off three hits. She was replaced by Allie Miles (Dacula, Ga.) who continued her solid run of play against the Spartans. She struck out four and did not allow a run to pick up her 14th win of the season. Miles has not allowed an earned run in her last 25.0 innings of work.
UNCG was first on the board, stringing together two bloop hits down the right field line and a walk to plate the game's first run. With two outs in the frame, a slow-roller to shortstop allowed a second run to score and gave the Spartans an early 2-0 lead.
Williams opened the bottom of the second with a leadoff double. Her pinch runner, Breigh Findlay (Macon, Ga.) advanced to third on Brooks' single through the right side and scored on a passed ball. Brooks reached third on a single by Burnett. With Andrea Tarashuk (Flemington, N.J.) at the plate, Brooks got caught in a rundown, but scored on an errant throw by the Spartan first baseman. With two runs in the second, Georgia Southern tied the game at 2-2.
In the third, Georgia Southern plated another run off three hits and a UNCG error. Ennis, who reached on a single to spark the inning, rounded third and headed for home off a single up the middle by Williams. The relay throw from the outfield was in time, but the UNCG catcher bobbled the throw and was unable to apply the tag as Ennis scored to give the Eagles a 3-2 lead.
Ennis helped Georgia Southern extend its lead to 5-2 in the fourth when her double plated two Eagle runs. Alexa Lewis (Lawrenceville, Ga.) and Marie Fogle (Rincon, Ga.) crossed the plate on the two-bagger to left field.
Two more runs scored in the fifth inning after UNCG walked the bases loaded with three-straight walks. Tarashuk singled back to the Spartan pitcher and brought Williams in for a run. Brooks scored with two outs as a result of Jorie Walker's (Dublin, Ga.) fielder's choice to second base. The 7-2 lead for Georgia Southern was enough for the victory.
Georgia Southern travels next weekend for a three-game series against Chattanooga. Play begins on Saturday (April 30th) with an afternoon doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. The series concludes on Sunday, May 1st, at 1 p.m. for the regular-season finale.
The Eagles play host to the Southern Conference Softball Championships, May 11th through the 14th at Eagle Field. Tickets for the Championship are available at SoConSports.com.
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.
