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Georgia Southern University Athletics

Softball

Late Rally Gives Eagle Softball a Series Win Over UNCG, 7-3

BOX SCORE

Post Game Interview with Head Coach Annie Smith

STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern Softball delivered five runs in the sixth inning to snatch a 7-3 win over UNCG in the series final on Sunday afternoon at Eagle Field. Three runs for the Spartans in the opening half inning put the visitors up early, but the five-run sixth gave the Eagles the win and a series victory in the penultimate round of SoCon play.

“Today we got another come from behind win and that really shows how this team just doesn’t stop fighting,” said Head Coach Annie Smith. “Sarah Purvis did a great job today and we did a great job executing on the base paths. We got some stolen bases and some hit and runs.”

With the win, Georgia Southern moves to 12-8 in league play and third place in the league standings behind Appalachian State (16-5) and College of Charleston (13-7). The Eagles are 26-26 overall in 2013, while UNCG falls to 11-9 in league play and 34-16 overall. The Spartans are in fifth place, trailing Chattanooga on percentage points at 10-8 with the Mocs having all three games rained out this weekend.

UNCG got on the board early with three runs in the first inning. Walks to the first two Spartan hitters opened the door for Katelyn Bedwell to drive in the first run off a single. Heather Robb pushed two more across with a double to right field, but the UNCG shortstop was cut down at third base by Kaitlyn Johnson’s second outfield assist of the weekend to keep the score at 3-0 through a half inning of play.

In the bottom of the first, Alexa Lewis worked a leadoff walk and went to third on a throwing error by the pitcher on Lexi Allen’s sacrifice bunt attempt. Lewis scampered home on Kourtny Thomas’ sacrifice fly to right, cutting the UNCG lead to 3-1.

Brianna McLendon sparked the Eagles in the third inning with a leadoff single to open the frame. She reached third later in the inning and was able to cruise home when Allen stole second and the catcher’s throw sailed into centerfield. McLendon’s eighth run scored this season cut the lead to 3-2.

Georgia Southern’s five run sixth inning put the Eagles up 7-3 entering the seventh inning. Shelby Morrill’s leadoff single was followed by two walks and two hit batters to give the Eagles a 4-3 lead. Kaitlyn Johnson’s full count walk and AJ Hamilton’s hit by pitch drove in the runs. Pinch hitter Gabrielle Story pushed another run home with a sacrifice fly and two more scored on Alexa Lewis’ double.

Despite UNCG putting two runners on base in the seventh inning, Sarah Purvis picked up the win with 6.2 innings of relief work. She allowed just three hits and no runs in her outing while fanning nine Spartans. The junior hurler picked up her 13th win of the season and lowered her season ERA to 2.27. In SoCon play, Purvis is now 7-1 with a 1.37 ERA.

Next weekend Georgia Southern will close out the 2013 regular season at home against league-leaders Appalachian State. While the Eagles cannot win the SoCon Regular Season Championship, GSU can play the spoiler for the Mountaineers who was idle in league play this weekend. The series begins on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. with a doubleheader at the friendly confines.

Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics and twitter.com/GSAthletics, and its new "Eagles GATA" mobile app for Android and iOS. 

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