Highlights:
• Emily Snider hit her sixth home run of the season in the bottom of the third inning
• Senior A.J. Hamilton hit her team-leading ninth home run in the bottom of the fourth inning
 
STATESBORO, Ga. – Senior A.J. Hamilton probably couldn't have scripted a better story for her final game at Eagle Field. Georgia Southern's four-year starter at catcher, Hamilton helped lead the Eagles to a 2-0 victory over the eighth-ranked Ragin' Cajuns of Louisiana-Lafayette with a 2-for-3 outing at the plate, including a home run in the fourth with a huge crowd in the stands.
 
The Eagles (29-24, 12-9 SBC) controlled the game from the outset with pitcher Dixie Raley and the defense retiring ULL (37-7, 18-2) in order in the top of the first. In the bottom of the frame, the Eagles loaded the bases with three base hits and never looked back. GS ended the game out-hitting the Cajuns 10-3.
 
In the bottom of the third inning, Snider broke the scoreless tie by hitting her sixth home run of the season to put the Eagles up 1-0. Hamilton followed that up by leading off the Eagles' half of the fourth with a solo shot to center field of her own, extending the GS lead to 2-0. The home run was the ninth of the season for Hamilton and was the 23^rd of her career, a mark that has her sixth in the Georgia Southern record book.
 
Hamilton ended the game 2-for-3 at the plate, matching Taylor Rogers, Morgan Robinson and Hannah Farrell. Hamilton added the run scored and run batted in.
 
Raley (22-11) secured her 22^nd win of the season as well as her fifth shutout on the year as she held the Cajuns to just three hits spread out over the seven-inning affair. Alex Stewart (22-4) started the game for the Ragin' Cajuns and pitched the first three innings before Victoria Brown came on in relief in the fourth inning.
 
COACH SMITH SAYS
"The team played a great game today. Dixie pitched well, Emily had the big home run to put us up and then A.J. followed and hit a home run against the No. 8 team in the county as well on Senior Day. Defensively, we did a great job. We made plays throughout the game, our outfielders made some great catches and the infielders did what they needed to do. It was a great way to close out our final home game in front of a great crowd. Our fans have been great all year coming out to support these players and it is just awesome for us to have that sort of support in the stands. I'm glad we were able to get a great win for the fans today."

UP NEXT
Georgia Southern will close out the regular-season on the road next weekend as they travel to in-state rival Georgia State for both a critical Sun Belt Conference series as well as a critical showdown in the Southern vs. State Rivalry Series. One point will be on the line in the series. To date, Georgia State leads the 2015-16 series 11-5. Georgia Southern and Georgia State will meet on the softball diamond in Atlanta for the first time since the 2013 season. The two will play a single game at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 6 and will then play a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday, May 7.
 
 
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