HIGHLIGHTS
• Macy Weeks picked up her first collegiate hit
• Senior A.J. Hamilton started her 171^st straight game behind the plate
• Four Eagles made their first collegiate starts
 
STARKVILLE, Miss. - The Georgia Southern softball team kicked off its 2016 campaign Thursday evening, falling 6-0 to Mississippi State at brand-new Nusz Park in the first game of the Bulldog Kickoff Classic. The young Eagles had four players earn their first collegiate starts: Haley Carter, Hannah Ferrell, Macy Weeks and Lydia Witkowski.

The Bulldogs, who have been to five straight NCAA Regionals, struck first with four runs in the second inning thanks in part to two GS errors. In the next half inning, Weeks led off with a sharp single up the middle for her first collegiate hit and moved up 60 feet when Alesha Mann reached on an error. Haley Carter put down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners up, but MSU pitcher Holly Ward picked up a strikeout and third baseman Caroline Seitz snagged a rocket from Witkowski to end the threat.

The Bulldogs strung together three hits in the third inning, scoring a run on a wild pitch and a single through the left side to make it 6-0. That would be the final tally as the Eagles stymied the Bulldogs from the fourth inning on.

Kierra Camp (L, 0-1) went three innings for the Eagles, allowing six runs (three earned) on six hits with a walk and a strikeout. The sophomore induced seven ground outs to help control the pace. Freshman Dixie Raley made her collegiate debut, tossing three scoreless innings. She allowed just a pair of hits and struck out four while walking two.

Weeks had the lone hit for GS while Carter had a sacrifice bunt to lead the offense.

The Eagles will be back in action on Friday, taking on Tennessee Tech at 11 a.m. (ET) and Alabama A&M at 1:30 p.m. (ET) in Starkville.

SMITH SAYS:
"We've got to tighten up on defense, but I thought we did some nice things and settled down late in the ballgame. We got some good experience for Dixie in the circle. I thought she came in and and did a nice job. The second inning was really the difference in the game, but we calmed down after that. We battled at the plate, but we have to make adjustments a little quicker and we know that. But overall, I'm pleased with the effort and the energy and hopefully we can come out tomorrow and build on this game."