Eagles Blank Owls, 9-0, in Sunday Finale
3/25/2012 8:26:00 PM | Softball
KENNESAW, Ga. - Georgia Southern Softball jumped all over Kennesaw State early, posting four runs in the first inning, en route to a 9-0 win on Sunday afternoon. The victory improves the Eagles to 20-10 and hands the Owls their first three-game series sweep in program history.
"We are very happy to get our third series sweep of the season," said Head Coach Annie Smith. "We got a lot of great hits today, especially those first inning home runs from Alexa (Lewis) and Mackenzie (Williams). We also got some great at bats from our pinch hitters late. Sarah (Purvis) threw a great game and our defense was good. Now we've got to get prepared for Wednesday's game at Georgia."
The Eagles needed just five pitches to get on the board as junior Alexa Lewis (Lawrenceville, Ga.) crushed a leadoff home run to open the game. Her third career home run and second in as many days sailed over the fence in right field to give Georgia Southern an early 1-0 advantage in the first inning.
Later in the frame after a hit by Hanna Ennis, (Snellville, Ga.) a walk to Marie Fogle (Rincon, Ga.) put runners on base for Mackenzie Williams (Baxley, Ga.). The Eagle cleanup hitter ripped her fourth home run of the season and first since March 5th over the fence in right. The four runs in the first inning is the biggest haul for the Eagles in the first frame this season.
Lewis added two more runs in the fourth when her two-out single got through the right side of the infield to score two runners and post a 6-0 advantage through the middle of the fourth inning.
Georgia Southern tacked on an insurance run in the sixth inning, taking advantage of a dropped infield fly that was altered by the blustery conditions. Tyler Sampson (Monroe, Ga.) scored on the play to give GSU a 7-0 lead.
In the top of the seventh, GSU added two more runs with the first coming via a bases loaded walk to pinch hitter Breigh Findlay (Macon, Ga.). The second crossed on Fogle's RBI groundout to second. The out left Fogle at 0-for-3 on the day, snapping her eight-game hit streak.
Starting pitcher Sarah Purvis (Warner Robins, Ga.) scattered five hits and didn't allow a run in six innings of work to improve to 10-5 in the circle this season. Freshman Marla Thompson (Statesboro, Ga.) worked the final inning to close out the Georgia Southern victory and the third combined shutout of the season for the Eagles.
Georgia Southern makes the trip to Athens on Wednesday night for a contest against Georgia No.11 Lady Bulldogs. The game starts at 6:30 p.m. from Jack Turner Stadium. Next weekend, the Eagles host Chattanooga for a pivotal conference series from Eagle Field.
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