Softball Opens Season at Kickin' Chicken Classic
2/8/2012 6:40:00 AM | Softball
STATESBORO, Ga. - The Georgia Southern Softball opens its 27th season on Friday in the Coastal Carolina Kickin' Chicken Classic from Conway, S.C. The Eagles were picked to finish third in the Southern Conference in a poll of the league's head coaches a week ago. This weekend, the Eagles open the 2012 campaign against George Washington (Noon) and Marshall (2 p.m.) on Friday before facing Marshall (4:30 p.m.) and George Mason (6:30 p.m.) on Saturday afternoon. The weekend closes out against Coastal Carolina on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.
This weekend's games are the debut for first year head coach Annie Smith, who leads the Eagles on the field for the first time. During the 2011 fall season, Georgia Southern finished an undefeated 8-0, including a pair of one run victories over Georgia Tech.
The Eagles swept the league's preseason plaudits with Marie Fogle (Rincon, Ga.) being named SoCon Preseason Player of the Year and sophomore Allie Miles (Dacula, Ga.) earning Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Fogle, who earned First Team All-SoCon honors a year ago, hit .351 with 14 home runs to rank second in the league. Miles earned SoCon Freshman of the Year honors last season and led the league with 170 total strikeouts.
The 2012 squad is accented with 10 newcomers including a few that are expected to earn playing time immediately. Sophomore Kourtny Thomas (Warner Robins, Ga.) is a transfer from Tennessee that hit .474 in the fall season with three home runs and three doubles. She will get the start at shortstop on opening day. Two new pitchers, Marla Thompson (Statesboro, Ga.) and Brooke Red (Warner Robins, Ga.), should see plenty of playing time early in the year. Thompson had a 0.47 ERA in the fall while Red won three games in the fall.
Following the opening weekend of play, Georgia Southern returns home for an in-state grudge match against Georgia State. The battle of the GSU's doubleheader starts on Wednesday afternoon at 3 p.m. from Eagle Field in Statesboro.
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