STATESBORO, GA. – A three-run ninth inning with the International Tiebreaker Rule in effect gave Eastern Kentucky a 6-3 win to close a frigid first day at the Eagle Classic II on the campus of Georgia Southern University. Taylor Rogers led the way for the home side with a 4-for-5 night, while Emily Snider drove in two runs. The Eagles face North Carolina in the first of two games for the Blue and White on Saturday.

Eastern Kentucky got a run in the first inning after stringing together two singles. An RBI ground out by Shannon McQueen brought leadoff hitter Krislyn Campos around from third for the opening run.

The Eagles loaded the bases for Emily Snider who brought the Eagles level at 1-1 with an RBI single to center. Georgia Southern had a chance to take a 2-1 lead on an attempted sacrifice fly from Morgan Robinson. Alesha Mann, however, left early and was called out at third to end the Eagle threat with runners stranded at first and second.

The Colonels took a 2-1 lead in the fourth when Darcy Schueler hit EKU's first home run of the season to centerfield.  EKU tacked on another run in the fifth inning to extend their lead to 3-1.

AJ Hamilton reached third on a three-base error with one out in the sixth inning, but back-to-back infield outs left Hamilton at third and the Eagles down by two runs.

The Eagles struck two out lightning in the seventh inning as a Taylor Rogers single opened the door for the Eagles to put the winning run on base. A double from Emily Snider scored Rogers, while a walk and a hit batter loaded the bases with Hamilton coming to the dish. The Eagle catcher walked to tie the game and send the contest to extra innings.

Two quick outs in the bottom of the eighth left the bases empty for Mann who punched a double center. The freshman shortstop, however, was cut down at third attempting to stretch the play to a triple.

"I take responsibility for that one," said Head Coach Annie Smith. "I told the team after the game that I made a mistake trying to do too much, and not holding up Alesha at second. We did a great job tonight to get back in the game in the seventh inning."

EKU took advantage of a Brooke Red throwing error with one out in the top of the ninth to score three total runs in the frame. The visitors started with a runner on second base due to the international tiebreaker rule. EKU worked her to third with a single, followed by a stolen base to put two runners in scoring position. A comebacker to Red was overthrown to first, allowing two runs to score, while two more hits in the inning allowed a third run to score.

Rogers gave the Eagles life in the ninth, delivering a bunt single to start the inning. Her single advanced Mann to third, while a stolen base by Rogers put two runners in scoring position. An infield ground ball, followed by two strikeouts ended the game as the Eagles dropped their weekend opener after leaving a total of 11 runners on base.

Georgia Southern is back in action on Saturday in the second day of Eagle Classic II. The eagles face North Carolina and Bradley at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.  The weekend concludes on Sunday with a single game at 3:30 p.m. against Dayton with temperatures expected in the mid-70s to close the weekend.

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, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA. For tickets to Georgia Southern athletics events, call 1-800-GSU-WINS or visit GSEagles.com.