Georgia Southern University
7-8
North Carolina A&T
2-11
Barnard, Ball Lead Eagles Past Aggies On Final Day Of GATA Challenge
2/26/2023 1:20:00 PM | Softball
Freshman Alana Barnard hurls her first collegiate shutout while Courtney Ball drives in three
STATESBORO - Freshman Alana Barnard notched her first collegiate shutout in the circle and junior Courtney Ball drove in three runs as Georgia Southern softball closed out the GATA Challenge with a 4-0 win over North Carolina A&T on Sunday at Eagle Field.
The Eagles improved to 7-8 with the victory, while North Carolina A&T fell to 2-11. Georgia Southern returns to action on Friday, traveling to Tallahassee, Fla., to take part in the Dugout Club Classic, hosted by No. 6 Florida State.
The Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second as Olivia Creamer avoided a tag at third base, allowing Ball to score on a fielder's choice.
Ball then singled home Janai Conklin in the fourth inning for the 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Eagles loaded the bases and Ball delivered a two-run double to left center for the 4-0 advantage.
Barnard, meanwhile, kept the Aggies off balance all day, allowing just a pair of hits, walking four and striking out a season-high six to notch her first collegiate victory. Joey Barkhimer (1-1) took the loss for the Aggies, giving up seven hits and four runs in 4 2/3 innings of work, walking four and striking out one.
Ball finished the game 3-for-3 with a double and three RBI, while Faith Barth went 2-for-3.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Barnard, Alana (1-0)
L: BARKHIMER, Joey (1-1)
Batting:
2B: PATMON, Dezianna 1
Base Running:
SB: ESTRADA, Alyxx 1
CS: TERRY, Moriah 1
Batting:
2B: Conklin, Janai 1 ; Ball, Courtney 1
RBI: Ball, Courtney 3 ; Kell, Brooke 1
SH: Creamer, Olivia 1 ; Stewart, Kinley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Barth, Faith 1 ; Mills, Dejah 1 ; Conklin, Janai 1 ; Ball, Courtney 1
SB: Barth, Faith 1
CS: Kell, Brooke 1
