STATESBORO, Ga. - Bolstered by four true freshmen in the starting lineup, the Georgia Southern softball team swept a pair of games Sunday on the final day of the Eagle Classic, downing Delaware State 9-2 before shutting out Presbyterian 4-0.

While the quartet of Abby Broome (C), Meredith McLendon (2B), Shelby Wilson (3B) and Mekhia Freeman (RF) have all started at some point during the season, Sunday marked the first time all four started a game together. They responded by picking up a combined seven hits, seven runs scored, seven RBIs and three home runs.

The Eagles also played flawless defense and had several home runs to propel the attack.

GS 9, DSU 2
Lydia Witkowski manufactured the Eagles' run in the first inning, doubling to lead off the game, stealing third base and coming home on an errant throw from the catcher.

In the fourth inning, the Hornets stung the Eagles for two runs on a home run from Mika Lumsden to take a 2-1 lead. The Eagles came right back in the bottom half of the frame, scoring four runs. Wilson scored on Witkowski's infield single and then Freeman connected on her second home run of the season, a three-run shot to right field to make it 5-2.

In the fifth inning, Hannah Farrell blasted her first home run of the season, a solo shot to left-center field, to make it 6-2. With the bases loaded, McLendon came through with a single up the middle to plate two more runs. GS picked up one last run in the sixth inning on Morgan Robinson's sacrifice fly.

McLendon led the offense with a career-high three hits and drove in two runs. Witkowski and Freeman both had two hits while Farrell and Alesha Mann all had a hit.

Kierra Camp picked up her third win of the season, going the distance. The junior allowed two runs on six hits with three strikeouts.

GS 4, PC 0
Broome got the Eagles on the board in the second inning, blasting her first career home run. Her solo shot made it 1-0 in favor of the home team. Wilson got in on the long ball fun, crushing a solo shot down the line in the fourth inning to make it 2-0.

Emily Snider launched her fourth home run of the season in the sixth inning and then Mann's sacrifice fly to score pinch runner Haley Carter.

The Eagles had four hits in the game, three of them being home runs. Snider led the way with two hits while Broome and Wilson both had one.

Dixie Raley was dominant, tossing a three-hit shutout with nine strikeouts against just three walks. It was her third shutout of the season.

QUOTABLES:
"I'm really happy with the way we played today," said head coach Annie Smith. "We didn't have any errors in two games, Dixie and Kierra both threw great and the freshmen stepped up today up and down the lineup. It was great to see us come together defensively after not playing as well yesterday as we know we can. I saw some great things going into a mid-week at Savannah State and conference. I'm hoping today gives us some confidence that we can play together as a team and that we continue to improve each time we take the field."

UP NEXT:
The Eagles (10-9) will head down I-16 for a single game at Savannah State on Wednesday at 6 p.m., and then will return home next weekend to host Troy in a three-game series to open Sun Belt Conference play.