ATHENS, Ga. - No. 15-ranked Georgia softball used a pair of big innings to outlast visiting Georgia Southern, 12-7, on Wednesday evening at Turner Softball Stadium in Athens.

The Bulldogs improved to 30-5 on the year with the win, and also improved to 28-0 all-time against the Eagles in Athens. Georgia Southern fell to 8-18 on the season. The Eagles will return to Sun Belt play beginning Friday at Appalachian State.

Georgia greeted Georgia Southern starter Kastin Belogorska in the first inning with a four-run frame to take a 4-0 lead. The Eagles, however, sent 10 batters to the plate in the top of the fourth - capped by a Faith Shirley two-run single - to take a 5-4 lead.

The Eagles then used the longball to extend their lead to 7-4. Courtney Ball hit her first home run as an Eagle in the fifth inning, then Faith Shirley blasted a solo shot in the sixth. It was the 30th career home run for Shirley, who joins an exclusive group of just six players in Georgia Southern history to reach that milestone.

Georgia then put the game away in the bottom of the sixth with an eight-run frame, keyed by a three-run home run by Sara Mosley.

Kylie Macy (8-1) notched the win in relief for the Bulldogs, giving up one hit and one run in 2 1/3 innings of work, striking out four. Rylee Waldrep (4-5) took the loss for the Eagles, giving up four hits and four runs in 2/3rds of an inning of work.

Shirley went 2-for-3 with three RBI to lead the Eagles offensively, while Olivia Creamer went 2-for-4 with a double.