Sarah Purvis Throws Perfect Game as Eagles Advance to Face USF
5/18/2013 9:14:00 PM | Softball
GAINESVILLE, FLA. – With elimination on the line, Sarah Purvis responded with her second career perfect game as the Eagles ousted Hampton from the NCAA Tournament, 3-0. It was the second perfect game in program history and gives the Eagles another chance against USF on Saturday evening at 6 p.m.
"That was another incredible performance by Sarah," said Head Coach Annie Smith. "The offense scored some runs for us today, now we've got another big elimination game against USF. Words really can't describe how big an outing that was, especially in the NCAA Tournament."
Sarah Purvis was masterful for her second career perfecto. She fanned six batters in the game as she pitched her way into the record books. She improves to 18-15 on the season as the Eagles survive and advance, moving to 32-29 on the season. Purvis has also not allowed an earned run in her last 25.0 innings of work.
Georgia Southern drew first blood in the bottom of the first by scoring the team's first run of the regional. Alexa Lewis singled to right out of her leadoff position, whiile an error on Lexi Allen's sacrifice bunt attempt put runners and second and third. Shelby Morrill drove the run in with one out to post a 1-0 lead through an inning of play.
The Eagles tacked on two more runs in the fifth when Shelby Morrill hit her seventh home run of the season over the fence in right. The two-run bomb also drove in Lewis for her second run of the day after the senior opened the inning with a walk. The runs bolstered the Eagle advantage to 3-0 through five.
The Eagles advance to face USF at 6 p.m. in an elimination game at the Gainesville Regional. The win is GSU's second-ever victory in the NCAA Tournament and the first since 2006.
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