Purvis Tosses Two-Hitter in 1-0 Loss at No. 9 Georgia
3/29/2012 12:23:00 AM | Softball
ATHENS, Ga. - A walk with the bases loaded in the first inning was the difference as Georgia Southern Softball fell, 1-0 to No. 9 Georgia on Wednesday evening at Turner Softball Stadium. The Eagles got a tremendous outing from Sarah Purvis (Warner Robins, Ga.) to stymie the Bulldog batters, allowing just two hits and keeping the bases clear after the run scored in the first. The Eagle bats, however, couldn't match the performance by Purvis, registering just two hits on the night.
"That was a pitchers duel," said Head Coach Annie Smith. "Sarah (Purvis) threw a great game, I'm glad we didn't give in during the first inning after giving up the run. I told the team that they've got nothing to hang their heads about with that game. We've got Chattanooga this weekend, and it is conference games that matter for us."
The Lady Bulldogs got on the board first with one run in the first inning. UGA posted a pair of hits in the opening frame, but earned a two-out walk to take the early 1-0 lead. After allowing the run, Purvis settled down to retire the next 16 batters, finishing the game with five strikeouts.
Georgia Southern got two hits in the first two innings, the first coming off the bat of Alexa Lewis (Lawrenceville, Ga.) who celebrated her 21st birthday with a leadoff single. The Eagles, however, would not put a runner on base until the top of the seventh inning when Marie Fogle (Rincon, Ga.) reached on a fielding error by the shortstop.
Fogle went to second on Mackenzie Williams' (Baxley, Ga.) sacrifice bunt. That, however, would be as far as the Eagle outfielder would go. Two more outs would end the game and hand the Eagles their 11th loss of the season.
The game timed in at 1:17, tying the shortest game of the season for the Eagles.
The Eagles return to conference play this weekend with a three-game set against Chattanooga at the friendly confines of Eagle Field. Saturday's doubleheader starts from 1 p.m. with a single game starting at the same time on Sunday. It is Alumni Weekend with stars of the past returning to Statesboro this weekend.
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