SAN MARCOS, TEXAS – Georgia Southern Softball's 2015 season came to an end on Wednesday as the Eagles were eliminated from the Sun Belt Tournament by Georgia State, 8-0. The Panthers advance to face Troy in the Tournament's second preliminary round on Wednesday afternoon. The 2015 season ends for the Eagles with an overall record of 12-39.
"This was a tough season, but I'm happy that we kept fighting even to the final out," said Head Coach
Annie Smith. "I hate to see the season end this way for our seniors, but I'm proud that our team didn't quit."
Georgia State took an early advantage, touching the Eagles for five runs in the first inning off five hits. Senior righty
Brooke Red got the start and lasted 0.2 innings, matching the shortest appearance of her career. After Red was replaced by
Kierra Camp with the score 2-0 and two runners aboard. Camp gave up a three-run home run off the first pitch that hit the top of the fence to make the score 5-0.
The Eagles got their first two hits in the third inning when
Breanna McLendon and
Taylor Rogers delivered singles to put two runners aboard with one out. A foul out to the catcher and a line out to third base ended the threat as Georgia Southern stranded runners on first and second.
The Panthers ended the game in the fifth with three more runs. The first came with runners on second and third as a throwing error by third baseman
Michelle Mazur allowed two to score. The final run came in as Kensey Caldwell hit a bloop single between the Eagle second baseman, right fielder and center fielder.
The loss ends the careers of six Georgia Southern seniors who will graduate soon from the University. Seniors
Breanna McLendon,
Lexi Allen,
Brooke Red,
Marla Thompson,
Savanah Coon, and
Kaitlyn Johnson own two trips to the NCAA Tournament as well as a pair of regular season conference championships.
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. Fans can purchase tickets to Georgia Southern Athletics events by calling 1-800-GSU-WINS or by visiting GSEagles.com.
