Eagles Soar Past Appalachian State
5/10/2012 7:53:17 AM | Softball
BOONE, N.C. - Top-seeded Georgia Southern Softball advanced past No. 5 Appalachian State on day two of the 2012 Southern Conference Softball Tournament. Sarah Purvis (Warner Robins, Ga.) was dominant in the circle for the Eagles, striking out eight batters and allowing just one hit in her six innings of work. The Eagles face No. 2 seed Chattanooga on Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. with a trip to the SoCon Championship Game on the line.
"That was one of the best games we have played in a while," said Head Coach Annie Smith. "Sarah Purvis pitched a great game and our offense did a great job. We've got a huge game tomorrow afternoon against Chattanooga."
The game's first three innings were played at a brisk pace with each pitcher holding their opponents in check. Kourtny Thomas (Warner Robins, Ga.) changed that with a towering home run to center which landed on the roof of Appalachian's indoor practice facility. The two-run job was her seventh of the season and first since April 14th. She plated GSU's designated player, Kaitlyn Johnson (Fayetteville, Ga.), on the play to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead in the middle of the fourth frame.
In the sixth inning, Tabby Douberley (Clyo, Ga.) laced a single up the middle to score the Eagles third run of the game and chase Appalachian's starting pitcher, Caitlyn Wainwright from the game. Wainwright had the Eagles number of late, entering the game holding GSU scoreless over her last 11 and two thirds innings.
Lexi Allen (Cobbtown, Ga.) welcomed Riley Carter to the circle by ripping a three-run home run over the scoreboard in left. It was her second home run of the season with both coming in Boone. Allen's heroics gave the Eagles a 6-0 lead through the middle of the sixth and tied the SoCon's record for most total home runs in a tournament with 20.
Purvis got within four outs of her second no-hitter of the season, keeping the Mountaineers without a hit until two outs in the sixth. The Mountaineers put a pair of runners in scoring position before Alexa Lewis (Lawrenceville, Ga.) made a crucial catch against the fence to retire the Mountaineer threat in the frame.
Allie Miles (Dacula, Ga.) came on to close out the game with a pair of strikeouts. Purvis, earned her 22nd win of the year, raising her school record total. Purvis also increased her season strikeout total to 238 against the Mountaineers. She has also not allowed a run in her last 35.1 innings of work.
Georgia Southern improves to 40-17 on the year while the Mountaineers fall to 22-24. The winner of Friday afternoon's contest between the Eagles and Lady Mocs will advance to Saturday's 1:30 p.m. SoCon Championship Game. The loser will play in an elimination game on Saturday morning at 11:00 a.m.
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