STATESBORO - Rylee Waldrep scattered six hits, allowing just one run, in a complete-game performance as Georgia Southern evened its Sun Belt Conference softball series with visiting Troy on Saturday, taking a 2-1 win at Eagle Field.

The Eagles moved to 8-16 overall and 3-5 in the Sun Belt with the win, while Troy falls to 19-9 overall and 5-3 in the Sun Belt. The two teams will finish the series on Sunday with first pitch at 1 p.m.

The Eagles pushed across the first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning as Ashlynn Gunter singled home Shelby Barfield for the 1-0 lead. It was the first run scored by the Eagles against the Trojans in 29 innings, dating back to the 2019 series between the two teams played in Troy.

Georgia Southern then added some needed insurance in the bottom of the sixth inning. Courtney Ball tripled to lead off the inning, then came home on a ground ball to first off the bat of Madi Banks that made the score 2-0.

Troy rallied in the top of the seventh as the Trojans put runners on first and second with two out. Pinch hitter Kaylee Chapman drove in a run with a double to left field, but Waldrep struck out Aayanah Hughes to end the game and preserve the victory.

Waldrep improved to 4-3 on the year with the complete-game victory, her third complete-game win of the season. Libby Baker (5-3) took the loss in the circle for Troy, giving up four hits and two runs in six innings of work, walking four while striking out nine.