KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Georgia Southern softball team used three timely home runs Friday on the opening day of the Citrus Classic at ESPN's Wide World of Sports Complex to pull out a pair of close wins. The Eagles first downed Elon 3-0 in eight innings on a home run from Emily Snider and then rallied for a 6-5 win over Morgan State thanks to home runs from Mekhia Freeman and Morgan Robinson.

GS 3, Elon 0 (8)
Georgia Southern and Elon couldn't settle things in regulation, but the Phoenix had two great chances to win it before the extra frame. Elon (7-3) loaded the bases in the fifth inning, but Emily Roper struck out to end the threat. In the bottom of the seventh, Elon got a runner to third base with two outs and Hannah Olson looked like she won it with a ground ball through the right side, but Freeman's diving effort snagged the ball and she flipped it over to first base just in time to send it to extra innings.

The two starting pitchers put on a show, as they kept their opponents at bay through seven innings. Kenna Quinn was the first to blink as she gave up a three-run home run to Snider in the top of the eighth inning, the only runs of the game allowed. Dixie Raley (W, 3-4) tossed a gem, allowing just two hits in pitching an eight innings of shut out ball. The sophomore struck out 10 and worked around five walks in the win.

The Eagles pounded out eight hits in the game, led by two apiece from Robinson, Hannah Farrell and Snider. Lydia Witkowski and Alesha Mann both had one hit.

GS 6, Morgan State 5
After a quick turnaround, the Eagles had to move to another field for their second game of the day. Morgan State used a pair of soft singles to the left side and a double steal to plate two runs in the top of the first inning. GS responded right back when Freeman's triple to the gap scored Witkowski and then Snider's sacrifice fly tied it up. The Bears scored a run in the top of the second inning and Abby Broome's single to right field scored Alesha Mann from third base to tie the game back up.

The Bears struck for two more runs in the third inning before Mann's sacrifice fly plated Freeman in the bottom half of the inning. In the bottom of fifth inning, Freeman continued her torrid day at the plate, driving a home run to deep right field to tie the game up. It was the first collegiate round-tripper for the freshman. Two batters later, Robinson blasted a solo home of her own to give the Eagles their first lead of the game. That would hold up as the Eagles picked up their second win of the day.

At the plate, Freeman nearly recorded the first cycle in program history, falling a double away from the historic feat. She ended up with three hits, scored three runs and drove in two. Witkowski, Broome and Robinson both had a pair of hits while Snider and Mann both picked up one hit.

Kierra Camp (W, 2-2) settled down late, retiring 13 of the final 14 MSU batters to shut the door late. She went the distance, striking out six.

UP NEXT:
Georgia Southern will return to action on Saturday, taking on Ball State at 11 a.m., and then Lehigh at 3:30 p.m.