Eagles Win 11-Inning Marathon Over Cougars, Return to Title Game
5/10/2013 10:31:00 PM | Softball
Post Game Interview with Annie Smith, Brooke Red and Andrea Tarashuk | Game Highlights | Photo Gallery
GREENSBORO, N.C. – It took 11 innings, but Georgia Southern Softball earned a return trip to the SoCon Championship Game with a 3-2 win over College of Charleston. Andrea Tarashuk delivered the game-winning hit in the 11th, hitting a liner through the right side to clinch the win. Brooke Red was stellar in the circle, not allowing an earned run in her longest career outing. The Eagles face UNCG for the SoCon Crown on Saturday at 11 a.m. on WatchESPN.com.
"That was an incredible game," said Head Coach Annie Smith. "Brooke Red pitched very well and our offense did a very good job of getting clutch hits and bunts in extra innings. I'm happy for our seniors for getting a chance to win another SoCon Championship."
Both teams stranded runners in scoring position early in the game with the Cougars leaving a runner on third in the third frame while the Eagles matched that feat by stranding a runner 60 feet away in the fifth inning.
The Eagles would have another big opportunity in the seventh inning as back-to-back hits put runners on first and second with one out in the inning. Back-to-back strikeouts, however, quelled the Eagles in the inning and sent the contest to extra innings.
Charleston went ahead 1-0 in the top of the ninth when Kasey Hogson scored on a passed ball as Amber Mueller struck out. Two hits earlier in the inning along with a wild pitch gave the Cougars the opportunity to take the 1-0 lead.
Down to their final three outs, Shelby Morrill opened the bottom of the ninth with a single, but a failed sacrifice opportunity left the Eagles with a runner on first base and one out. A ground out advanced the runner, but it was Kaitlyn Johnson's single through the left side that drove Tabby Douberley in with two outs to level the score at 1-1.
The international tiebreaker rule came into effect in the 10th inning as the Cougars sacrificed their runner over to start the 10th and plated her with a bloop single from Ashton Jarrett. The Cougars tallied another hit in the inning, but would strand runners on first and second.
Georgia Southern's first trip to the dish with the international tiebreaker saw the Eagles plate catcher AJ Hamilton with a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly. Alexa Lewis earned the RBI, but it was Lexi Allen that extended the inning with a double to the gap in right. The ball nearly cleared the fence as the sophomore steamed into second. A walk to All-SoCon shortstop Kourtny Thomas moved the bat to Morrill who flied out to end the inning.
The Eagles blanked the Cougars in the top of the 11th, stranding a runner on third base to end the threat.
The Eagles went to work in the bottom of the inning with Morrill at second. A sacrifice bunt by Douberley advanced the designated player to third, but it was Tarashuk's RBI single through the right side that sent the Eagles to their second-straight SoCon Championship Game.
Brooke Red delivered a herculean performance in the circle, working a career-high 11 innings for her ninth win of the season. She fanned 10 batters, one-off a career-best and both runs allowed were recorded as unearned. Charleston's Hope Klicker was handed the loss after she pitched 30.0 innings over the last two days.
The Eagles will face UNCG on Saturday in the SoCon Championship Game. The contest is set for 11 a.m. at the UNCG Softball Stadium. The Championship Final can be seen live on WatchESPN.com.
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