Softball Stymies Samford with Doubleheader Sweep
4/14/2013 12:14:09 AM | Softball
VIDEO: Post Game Interview with Head Coach Annie Smith
BOX SCORE (GAME ONE) // BOX SCORE (GAME TWO)
STATESBORO, GA. – It may have been “Moving Day” in Augusta on Saturday, but it was a big day for Georgia Southern’s softball offense who scored nine runs to take a doubleheader sweep over Samford at Eagle Field. Sarah Purvis tossed her second one-hitter in SoCon play this season, leading GSU to a 5-0 win in the opener. In game two the offense scored three in the first inning to post a 4-2 win over the Bulldogs. The teams are back in action on Sunday starting at 1 p.m. on Alumni Day. The Eagles will honor their former players in a pregame ceremony which starts at 12:45 p.m.
“It was great to see our pitchers coming back to form,” said Head Coach Annie Smith. “We’ve been a little bit injured all around, but our pitchers threw some great games and we played great defense behind them. We had some great at bats all year and I’m really happy that we continued with that today.”
– GAME ONE –
Sarah Purvis stymied the Samford Bulldogs in game one, holding the visitors to just one hit en route to a 6-0 win over the Bulldogs. Purvis struck out four in the game which saw her toss a one-hitter for the second time at home in conference play this season.
The Eagles opened the series with two hits in the first three batters to go with an error on a sacrifice bunt to load the bases with no outs in the first inning. Shelby Morrill and Tabby Douberley each hit RBI ground outs to score runs and up the Eagles up 2-0 through an inning of play.
In the second inning two-straight hits opened the frame while a throwing error on Brianna McLendon’s slap to third base allowed Kaitlyn Johnson to score the Eagles’ third run of the game. Two sacrifice flies by Alexa Lewis and Kourtny Thomas pushed more runners in as the Eagles took a commanding 5-0 lead.
A pitching change to start the third inning changed the Eagles’ fortunes at the plate as Georgia Southern would score just one more run in the game. That run came off a solo home by Johnson as the sophomore scored for the second time on the day. It was Johnson’s fourth career home run and her third against the Bulldogs.
The Eagles cruised to the 6-0 win behind Purvis’ solid outing. She carried a perfect game into the fifth inning, but a single down the leftfield line scuttled the no-no bid. Purvis, however, retired the next seven batters in order to nail down her 10th win of the season.
- GAME TWO –
Game two opened according to the same script with the Eagles scoring three runs in the opening frame. Two walks opened the door for Morrill to lace a ball down the line to right which was misplayed by the Samford outfielder. Two runs scored on the play and Morrill scored later in the inning on an RBI single by Andrea Tarashuk.
Samford got on the scoreboard in the third inning, breaking a 24.1 innings scoreless streak with an RBI ground out which cut the GSU lead to 3-1.
Georgia Southern added another run in the fifth when Johnson’s RBI double sent Douberley in to score after the senior walked with one out in the inning. The Bulldogs answered in the top of the sixth to cut the lead to 4-2 with a solo home run by pitcher Shleby Scott.
Miles retired the next six batters of the game to take the 4-2 victory and improve to 6-6 on the season. She allowed the two runs off five hits and struck out three while walking just once.
The Eagles will go for the series sweep against Samford on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. Georgia Southern Softball will honor its alumni in a pregame ceremony which starts at 12:45 p.m.
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