Highlights:
• Dixie Raley had 9 strikeouts in the first game, giving her 173 for the season which has her 6^th in program history for strikeouts in a single season
• The win in game-1 gives Raley sole possession of 2^nd all-time for wins in a single season (21) and was her 4^th shutout of the season
• A.J. Hamilton hit her 8^th home run of the season in game-2, giving her 22 for her career
 
SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Georgia Southern softball team split a midweek doubleheader at Savannah State University Wednesday evening and freshman pitcher Dixie Raley continued to impress as she climbed higher in the school record book. The Eagles claimed the first game 1-0 with the Tigers taking game-two 9-4.
 
Game 1: GS 1, SSU 0
The day's first game was a true pitcher's duel with the two hurlers holding the other team's offense mostly at bay. Both pitchers struck out nine batters in the game with Raley (21-10) securing her 21^st win of the season, giving her sole possession of second all-time for wins in a single season by an Eagle pitcher. It was the fourth shutout of the season for Raley as she pitched seven complete innings and gave up just three hits. The nine strikeouts by the freshman moved her up into sole possession of sixth all-time for most strikeouts in a single season with 173. Amanda Hallman (12-10) was saddled with the loss in the game for the Tigers as she gave up five hits and one earned run compared to the nine strikeouts.
 
In the top of the second inning Lydia Witkowski singled up the middle, scoring A.J. Hamilton from second base for the lone run of the game. Witkowski and India Davis combined for four of the Eagles' five hits. Witkowski went 2-for-3 with the one RBI while Davis went 2-for-2.
 
Game 2: SSU 9, GS 4
The day's second game was a different affair as the two teams combined for 13 runs and 10 hits. It all started in the top of the second inning when the Eagles loaded the bases before Taylor Rogers was hit by a pitch, pushing Davis across the plate to give GS a 1-0 lead.
 
The Tigers then took a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the inning but the Eagles responded in the top of the next frame when Hamilton rocketed a two-run home run straight out to center field. The homer was the eighth of the season for the senior and the 22^nd of her career, which has her sixth all-time in program history.
 
The next two and a half innings passed scoreless before Hannah Farrell placed a single down the right field line to score Witkowski from third, pulling the Eagles to within one run at 5-4. However, the Tigers extended the lead back out to five runs in the bottom of the inning with four unearned runs.
 
Both Morgan Robinson and Farrell went 2-for-4 at the plate as six different Eagles combined for eight hits.
 
Heather Felt (1-2) started the game for the Eagles and was the pitcher of record with Kierra Camp coming on in relief while Kasie Johnson (5-2) pitched the final 4.2 innings for SSU to secure the win. Faith Dickerson started the game for the Tigers but pitched just over two innings before Johnson came on to finish the game.

UP NEXT
Georgia Southern returns home this weekend to close out the home portion of their 2016 schedule with a three-game Sun Belt Conference series against No. 8 UL Lafayette. The Eagles and Ragin' Cajuns will play a doubleheader on Saturday, April 30 with the first game beginning at 1 p.m. The two teams will then close out the series on Sunday, May 1 with a single game at 1 p.m. Sunday's game will serve as the Eagles' Senior Day for Hamilton.
 
 
 
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