Tampa, Fla. – The Georgia Southern softball team (12-5) dropped its two contests against Louisville in extra innings, 7-6, and Villanova 13-3 in five innings on Saturday at USF Softball Stadium.
The Eagles return for its final game of the USF Tournament tomorrow against Florida Gulf Coast at USF Softball Stadium with first pitch set for 12 p.m.
Game One: Georgia Southern 6, Louisville 7
The Eagles struck first in the top of the third as
Jess Mazur recorded her fourth RBI of the weekend scoring
Emma Davis who led off the inning with a five-pitch walk.
Katie Perkins advanced to third on the play after singling and advancing to second. Two batters later,
Courtney Ball drove in Mazur on an RBI-double to go up 2-0.
Louisville responded in the bottom half of the frame on a three-run home run to go up 3-2, but the Eagles answered when
Faith Barth drew a bases loaded walk to even the score. Davis and Perkins reached on base hits before Mazur was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
After a scoreless fifth, Davis and
Gracie Bellard led off the sixth frame with back-to-back hits and advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Perkins. Mazur plated the lone run of the inning with her fifth run batted in of the weekend to retake the lead 4-3.
The Cardinals would tie the game in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings.
Georgia Southern plated two runs in the eighth to retake the lead, 6-4.
Delanie Thames started the inning off at second base before Davis drove her home on an RBI-single. Bellard followed with a single and Perkins moved the runners on a sacrifice bunt. Mazur plated the second run of the inning with her third RBI in the game on a base hit.
Louisville responded in the eighth with a trio of runs to take the game, 6-7.
Starting pitcher
Alana Barnard tossed four complete innings, allowing three runs on four hits, and striking out four.
Anslie Pettit (4-3) took the loss allowing four runs on six hits and fanning five in 3.1 relief innings of work.
Davis and Mazur went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead the Eagle offense. Mazur drove in three runs and Davis scored four of the seven runs. Bellard and Perkins each picked up two hits and Ball recorded one.
Game Two: Georgia Southern 3, Villanova 13
Villanova got on the board first to take an early 2-0 lead in the opening frame pushing its runs across on three hits, but
Delanie Thames answered in the second launching a three-run shot to put the Eagles in front 3-2 for her first collegiate home run.
The Wildcats would retake the lead for good in the bottom of the third scoring 11 runs on three hits.
Bailey Holland (4-2) earned the loss tossing two complete innings surrendering five runs on four hits.
