STATESBORO - Georgia Southern softball split a Sun Belt Conference doubleheader with visiting Appalachian State on Friday afternoon at Eagle Field. The Eagles took game one, 11-3, in six innings, while the Mountaineers won the nightcap, 6-3.
The split moves Georgia Southern to 10-21 overall and 3-10 in the Sun Belt. Appalachian State saw its nine-game win streak come to an end with the loss in the first game. The Mountaineers are 21-11 overall and 5-6 in the Sun Belt. The third game in the series will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday. It will be Senior Day for Georgia Southern softball as the Eagles honor four seniors - Mekhia Freeman, Alia Booth, Shayla Smith and Harlee Rewis - in a post-game ceremony.
"We've been talking all week about playing how we've been practicing," Georgia Southern Head Softball Coach Kim Dean said. "The girls have been energetic throughout the week. And any time we put together an energy-packed game, we're a tough team to beat. Going against their ace [in the first game] and having some success, everything about our game is about momentum and confidence. We stayed in the second game and still were in a position in the seventh inning. So we're walking away here proud of the way we played. And even though we didn't get both games, we've put together a good game plan to come back out here tomorrow and take the third game against a really good App State team."
GAME ONE: Georgia Southern 11, App State 3 (6 inn.)
Bailee Wilson went 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI, while Aaliyah Garcia and Kyleigh Richardson combined on a five-hitter to lead Georgia Southern to the game-one win over the Mountaineers.
Wilson had a solo home run in the third inning, an RBI triple in the fifth inning, then ended the game with a two-run single in the bottom of the sixth. Janai Conklin had a three-run home run in the first inning, her third straight game with a home run, while Mekhia Freeman went 3-for-3 with three runs scored.
Garcia (3-4) picked up the win for the Eagles with 4 1/3 innings of four-hit ball, giving up three runs - one earned - and walking two while striking out one. Richardson hurled 1 2/3 innings of one-hit shutout relief, walking one to notch her first save of the season.
Kenzie Longanecker (11-4) took the loss in the circle for the Mountaineers, giving up six hits and four runs - one earned - in two-plus innings of work, striking out two.
GAME TWO: App State 6, Georgia Southern 3
Sydney Holland limited the Eagles to just two hits over five innings, and the Mountaineers held on for a 6-3 win to earn a split in the doubleheader with the Eagles.
App State scored three times in the top of the first inning on consecutive RBI singles from Sidney Russell, Gabby Buruato and Mary Pierce Barnes. An RBI single from Kayt Houston in the second pushed the Mountaineer lead to 4-0.
Holland limited the Eagles to a lone hit over the first four innings, but the Eagles pushed across a run on a double steal that scored pinch runner Alisha House, then Shayla Smith drilled a two-run home run to cut the App State lead to 4-3 in the fifth.
App State secured a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh on RBI singles from Barnes and Emily Parrott.
Holland improved to 6-4 on the year with five innings of two-hit ball, giving up three runs - two earned - and walking two while striking out one. Delani Buckner hurled two innings of two-hit shutout relief, striking out one to notch her first save of the year. Rylee Waldrep (3-5) took the loss for the Eagles, giving up six hits and three runs in 1/3rd of an inning pitched.
Bailee Wilson had two hits in the second game to finish the doubleheader 5-for-6.
