Eagles Open Tournament with 3-0 Win Over Samford
5/9/2012 5:27:00 AM | Softball
BOONE, N.C. - Georgia Southern Softball got the 2012 Southern Conference Softball Tournament off to a winning start late on Wednesday night with a 3-0 win over Samford. The top-seeded Eagles endured a five-hour rain delay that pushed back the first game of the tournament to win the contest which began at 10:48 p.m. The Eagles advance to face either Appalachian State or UNCG in the second round of the tournament on Thursday night.
"It was a long day for us, but I'm happy that we got the win today," said Head Coach Annie Smith. "Sarah (Purvis) had another great outing, and Kaitlyn (Johnson) had a huge hit to give us the runs early."
The Eagles took an early 3-0 lead in the first inning thanks to a three-run home run by Kaitlyn Johnson (Fayetteville, Ga.). Her second career home run plated Alexa Lewis (Lawrenceville, Ga.) and Marie Fogle (Rincon, Ga.). It was the sixth time this season that the Eagles hit a home run in the first inning.
SoCon Pitcher of the Year Sarah Purvis (Warner Robins, Ga.) struck out nine in a complete game shutout for her 21st overall victory and sixth-straight win. She worked out of a jam in the sixth inning without allowing a run, striking out one and inducing a pop up with runners on second and third to keep the Bulldogs scoreless in the frame.
Georgia Southern's win improves the Eagles to 39-17 overall and snaps a string of three-straight tournaments where the Eagles lost the opening game.
The Eagles advance to face either Appalachian State or UNCG on Thursday night at 7 p.m. The teams face each other at 10 a.m. on Thursday for the right to face the top-seeded Eagles.
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