Tennessee Sweeps Eagles in Afternoon DH
3/13/2012 11:55:00 PM | Softball
KNOXVILLE, TENN. - Georgia Southern's five-game softball winning streak came to a close on Tuesday afternoon as the Eagles dropped a doubleheader at No. 9/11 Tennessee at Lee Stadium. Tennessee took the opener, 7-0. In the second game the Lady Vols posted a seven-run third inning to take the 9-0 victory.
"Tennessee is a very talented team," said Head Coach Annie Smith. "I feel like we played with them well today, but they took advantage of a few of our mistakes and that really cost us today. We're going to regroup and take on Mercer tomorrow."
-GAME ONE-
Georgia Southern kept the Lady Vols off the scoreboard for the first two frames before Lauren Gibson hit a two-run home run to centerfield, handing Tennessee a 2-0 lead. The Lady Vols added another run in the fifth off a sacrifice fly to go up 3-0.
Georgia Southern's starting pitcher Sarah Purvis (Warner Robins, Ga.) held the Lady Vols to just four hits over the first five innings before Tennessee exploded for four runs off four hits in the sixth frame as the sophomore was chased from the game. Freshman Marla Thompson (Statesboro, Ga.) entered the game in relief and recorded the final out of the sixth inning.
The Eagles were held to just two hits in the opener off the bats of seniors Hanna Ennis (Snellville, Ga.) and Mackenzie Williams (Baxley, Ga.).
-GAME TWO-
Allie Miles (Dacula, Ga.) took a no hitter into the third inning before the Lady Vols logged seven runs off four hits in the inning to take control of the game. Miles left the game with one out in the frame, as Tennessee posted the big inning to go up 7-0. Tennessee added two more runs in the fifth inning to take the 9-0 victory.
Georgia Southern posted three hits in the finale, led by Shelby Morrill's (Madison, Ga.) double in the fourth inning.
The Eagles wrap-up a six-day road swing on Wednesday afternoon with a twilight doubleheader against Mercer. The Eagles and Bears play at 4 p.m. with the second game starting a half hour later.
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