MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. - The Georgia Southern softball squad split a pair of games in the Madeira Beach Invitational on Saturday, defeating Boston College, 9-4, before falling to St. John's, 7-3, at ROC Park in Madeira Beach, Fla.
The Eagles (12-7) will wrap up action in the Invitational on Sunday with one game, taking on Siena at 11:30 a.m.
"It was another beautiful day to be out playing ball here in Madeira Beach," Georgia Southern Head Coach Kim Dean said. "Our first game was against good competition in Boston College, and we came away with a great team win that featured a lot of contributors, timely hitting, good defense and solid pitching. I think we're starting to put some pieces together, with the understanding that we're fighting each inning and pushing through to the end.
"The second game was against another really good team in St. John's," Coach Dean said. "They took the lead early, and we were able to stay within striking distance, but we just came away a little short. We're looking forward to finishing up tomorrow with our game against Siena, then putting in a solid week of practice leading to our Sun Belt opening series against Appalachian State."
GAME ONE: GS 9, Boston College 4
Logan Harrell hit her team-leading seventh home run of the season, while Mekhia Freeman blasted her first and drove in three runs in support of the freshman pitching duo of Ashleigh Morton and Jess Mazur in the win over the Eagles.
The win was the first for Georgia Southern over an ACC team since the Eagles last defeated Boston College, a 3-2 win that came on March 6, 2010.
Morton (5-2) notched the win by giving up four hits and four runs in four innings of work, walking three while striking out two. Mazur notched her first collegiate save by hurling three shutout innings of relief, giving up only one hit and one walk while striking out three. Boston College's Susannah Anderson (1-4) took the loss, hurling four innings and giving up four hits and five runs - four earned - while walking three and striking out three.
Ellington Day also had two hits for the Eagles in the win.Â
GAME TWO: St. John's 7, GS 3
The Red Storm plated seven runs over the game's first three innings, then rode the arm of Madison Morris for the win over the Eagles.
St. John's scored three runs in the first inning and three in the second - all on a three-run home run from Kaitlyn Lologo - to take a 6-2 lead. The Eagles plated two in the bottom of the first on RBI singles from Hannah Farrell and Faith Shirley.
The Red Storm tacked on a run in the third on an RBI single from Peyton Cody, while the Eagles answered in the bottom of the third as Allyssah Mullis drew a bases-loaded walk.
After that it was Morris (5-3) for St. John's as she notched the win by hurling 4 2/3 innings of one-hit shutout ball, walking three while striking out eight. Rylee Waldrep (3-4) took the loss in the circle for the Eagles, giving up five hits and six runs - five earned - in 1 1/3 innings, walking one.
