STATESBORO - The Georgia Southern softball squad received two outstanding outings from freshman Rylee Waldrep and senior Kierra Camp, while getting timely hitting in picking up a Sun Belt Conference doubleheader sweep of visiting South Alabama on Saturday afternoon at Eagle Field. The scores in both games were 5-1 in favor of the Eagles.
Georgia Southern (19-7, 4-1 SBC) extends its current win streak to six with the pair of wins, while South Alabama (14-13, 2-2 SBC) saw its four-game win streak come to a close. The two teams will wrap up the three-game Sun Belt series with a single game at Noon on Sunday at Eagle Field.
Waldrep was the story for the Eagles in game one as she carried a no-hitter into the seventh against the Jaguars. Facing the minimum through six, Waldrep gave up only a walk - and that runner was erased on a double play in the second. Kaleigh Lowe's double in the seventh broke up the no-hitter, but Waldrep finished the game by spinning a two-hitter for her fifth straight win to improve to 8-2 on the year.
Shelby Wilson's three-run home run to left field, followed by Logan Harrell's solo shot off the right field foul pole in the very next at-bat, staked the Eagles to a four-run lead in the third inning. Mekhia Freeman's RBI double in the fifth capped the scoring for Georgia Southern in game one.
Devin Brown (10-7) took the loss for the Jaguars in game one, giving up nine hits and five runs - one earned - in six innings of work, walking two while striking out six.
In game two, it was Kierra Camp's turn to shine in the circle as she notched her 10th win of the season by limiting the Jaguars to just four hits and one run in seven innings.
Macy Coleman's two-run double and Alesha Mann's RBI single in the second gave the Eagles a 3-0 lead, then Sydney Fisher's pinch-hit RBI double and India Davis' sacrifice fly in the sixth made the score 5-0. South Alabama's lone run was a solo shot by Kamdyn Kvistad leading off the seventh inning.
Alexis Reid (4-6) took the loss for USA in game two, giving up six hits and five runs in six innings of work, walking three while striking out four.
"These were overall great team wins today," Georgia Southern Head Softball Coach Kim Dean said. "We were doing what was needed, with timely hitting, along with very aggressive - but very disciplined - at-bats. Our pitchers gave up a couple of walks here and there that we could do without, but in general they really just let the defense do the job and our defense stayed focus. There were a couple of double plays we were able to turn set the tone, and I think we allowed our successes to keep us fueled. Overall huge wins, and I think this is really helping us catapult our confidence with the games we have coming up."
Freeman and Coleman each had three hits in the doubleheader to lead the Eagles offensively, while Wilson's three-run home run was her third of the season.
