STATESBORO - The Georgia Southern softball team opened up the 2020 season with a 10-2 run-rule victory over Hartford Friday night at Eagle Field on the first day of the Bash at the Boro Tournament. Due to weather on Thursday delaying Friday morning's action, the Eagles' second schedule game of the day was canceled due to time constraints.

A pair of big innings sparked the way as the Eagles put up five runs in the first inning, three more in the fifth and two more in the sixth to end the game early to the mercy rule.

GS Scoring Plays
• B1: Alia Booth singled to second base, driving in Gunter (GS, 1-0)
• B1: Allyssah Mullis singled up the middle, driving in Bailee Wilson (GS, 2-0)
• B1: Shayla Smith homered to left field on a 2-2 count to drive in three (GS, 5-0)
• B5: Bailee Wilson singled to right field, her first career hit and RBI, to drive in Mekhia Freeman (GS, 6-1)
• B5: Mullis reached on an error to allow Faith Shirley to score (GS, 7-1)
• B5: Olivia Creamer singled up the middle to plate Alisha House (GS, 8-1)
• B6: Booth singled to right center to drive in Shirley (GS, 9-2)
• B6: Mullis singled up the middle to plate Wilson and end the game early (GS, 10-2)

At the plate, the Eagles pounded out 14 hits, led by two apiece from Freeman, Wilson, Booth, Mullis and Creamer to lead the way while Ashlynn Gunter, Faith Shirley, Shayla Smith and Ellington Day all had one.

In the circle, junior Rylee Waldrep (W, 1-0) went the distance, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits with two strikeouts.

"It was just a really good overall performance from the team," said head coach Kim Dean. "We had good hitting, good energy and I was excited to see what we worked on all off-season. I was excited to see how pumped up they were to get out there and celebrate each other."

UP NEXT: The Eagles (1-0) will be back in action on Saturday with two more games. They'll open with ETSU (0-1) at 4:30 p.m. and then take on Rutgers (1-1) at 7 p.m.