Softball Splits Afternoon Doubleheader with Jacksonville

Eagles drop opener 4-0, but respond with 11-1 win in the second contest

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
STATESBORO, GA. – Georgia Southern Softball split a Wednesday afternoon doubleheader to start a run of five-straight non-conference games that runs the next week. The Dolphins took a 4-0 win in the opener, but it was the home side that responded with the resounding five-inning 11-1 win in the second game.

"It was good that we bounced back in the second game today," said Head Coach Annie Smith. "I think we learned what kind of intensity that we need to bring to every contest. Offensively we got hits up and down the lineup in the second game and Brooke Red pitched a good game."

The Eagles close the day with a 30-14 overall record and post the 10th 30+ win season in program history. Jacksonville is now 16-27 on the year.

GAME ONE
GS 0 – JU 4

Jacksonville got the first runs of the day in the third inning, hitting back-to-back home runs in the frame. Tuck's two-run bomb, followed by Bradshaw's solo job handed the visitors a 3-0 advantage.

The Dolphins added another run in the seventh inning on an RBI double by Bradshaw with two outs.

The Georgia Southern offense had plenty of opportunities, leaving eight runners on base with at least one runner left in five trips to the plate. Taylor Rogers went 2-for-4 as the Eagle offense posted five hits and took advantage of two Jacksonville errors.

Sarah Purvis took the loss, allowing seven hits and four runs over her seven innings of work. She also added 10 strikeouts to her season total as she fell to 16-8 on the year.

GAME TWO
GS 11 – JU 1 (5 Innings)

The Georgia Southern offense struck early and often in game two. Shelby Morrill hit a two-run home run in the first inning to give the Eagles a lead that would not be touched. The senior recorded her sixth home run of the season with the bomb and the 14th four-bagger of her career.

The Eagles added six more runs off six hits in the third to blow the contest open. Morrill and AJ Hamilton each drove in one run while Kourtny Thomas and Morgan Robinson drove in two runs in the third. With the Eagles batting around, Rogers was able to become the first Eagle since Jenny Side on 4/22/2008 to record two hits in an inning.

Jacksonville, however, punched back with a run in the fourth with a one-out home run to the gap in left. That run cut the Eagle lead to 8-1.

The home side tacked on three more runs in the fourth to bring the run rule back in play. Kaitlyn Johnson's double drove in a run while pinch hitter Savanah Coon laced a single to score a pair.

Brooke Red earned the win, allowing just two hits and a run to improve to 12-4 on the season. Senior Allie Miles pitched a perfect fifth inning to nail down the victory with a pair of strikeouts in her inning of work.

Georgia Southern is back on the road this weekend for a pair of non-conference games in Chapel Hill, N.C. The Eagles face Alabama on Friday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. and have a 2:30 p.m. game set for Saturday afternoon against the Tar Heels.

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. To purchase tickets call 1-800-GSU-WINS.

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