Eagles Eliminated by Appalachian State in Extra Innings
5/12/2011 9:19:00 PM | Softball
STATESBORO, Ga. - Freshman pitcher Allie Miles (Dacula, Ga.) pitched one of her best games of the season for the Georgia Southern Softball team, but the Eagles (28-29) were eliminated from the 2011 Southern Conference Tournament on Thursday (May 12th) at Eagle Field. The SoCon Freshman of the Year went all nine innings and tied a career high with 15 strikeouts, but Appalachian State (25-23) scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning to win 4-2.
Miles recorded her longest outing of the season and reached the 15-strikeout threshold for the second time. Her total ties for the third-most strikeouts in a single game for the Eagles and was two behind the school record of 17.
Appalachian took its second lead of the game in the top of the ninth off Allie Cashion's fourth RBI of the game. Her single through the right side scored Katie Boyd and Meghan Smith for a 4-2 ASU lead. GSU posted a single in the bottom of the ninth, but was unable to make a dent in the ASU advantage.
"I'm extremely proud of the work and effort these young women have put into the season," said Head Coach Maggie Johnson. "Of course we are disappointed, but we accomplished a lot of good things this season and look forward to continuing our progress next year."
A two-run home run by Cashion put ASU up 2-0 in the first inning. Georgia Southern responded in the bottom of the inning with a leadoff double by junior Marie Fogle (Rincon, Ga.). The First Team All-SoCon selection scored later in the inning off a two-run home run by Megen Smith (Springfield, Ga.) to tie the game, 2-2. The blast was her ninth of the season and 31st of her career, which moved her into a tie for second place on the Georgia Southern career list.
The combined total four runs in the first inning was all the offense generated by the teams in the regulation seven frames. After giving up the home run, Miles tallied 10 total strikeouts in regulation and five in extra innings, including two that ended bases-loaded threats by ASU in the seventh and eighth innings. Appalachian State's Hanna Dow pitched well on the other side for the Mountaineers. She picked up her 12th win of the season, going all nine innings.
The 2011 SoCon Softball Tournament continues this weekend from Eagle Field through the Championship game on Saturday afternoon. All the action can be seen live on SoCon TV and heard locally in the Statesboro/Bulloch County area on 91.9 FM "The Buzz."
Fans may follow all the action of the Georgia Southern Athletics teams by visiting GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com or check in for scores at twitter.com/GSScores or facebook.com/GSAthletics for updates.
