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Georgia Southern University Athletics

Softball Team

Softball

SEASON PREVIEW: Softball Continuing to Build Momentum into 2025 Season

Eagles open season Friday in Tampa

STATESBORO – Georgia Southern is coming off a historic 2024 season after going 30-21 for its highest winning percentage in the Eagles' Sun Belt tenure. Head Coach Sharon Perkins enters into her fourth season at the helm and is looking to carry the momentum from last season into the 2025 campaign. 

The Eagles finished tied for sixth in the Sun Belt last season after going 12-12 with series wins over Georgia State, App State, and James Madison while securing its first 30 win season since 2016. 

"We are pumped coming off of last season," said coach Perkins. "It was a great ending to last season. It was tough to lose those kids and have them graduate out but we have some new young blood in here and are excited to get going." 

After losing seven seniors, Perkins bolstered the squad with the addition of two transfers and seven newcomers. The squad picked up Western Illinois transfer Valerie Combs and Campbell transfer Madi Gillespie while adding six freshmen who look to make an immediate impact. 

Offensively, the Eagles return two of its top three hitters in Emma Davis and Faith Barth who started all 51 games last season. Davis was named preseason all-conference after hitting a team leading .384 recording 63 hits,  five doubles and 19 runs batted in last season. Barth tallied 44 hits for .301 batting average including five doubles and 20 runs batted in. 

The Eagles continued to improve on the defensive side of the ball putting up a .967 fielding percentage which marks the fifth best fielding percentage in program history. With a load of new faces and young talent, you can expect to see a different Eagle defense each game. "Competition makes the whole team better," said coach Perkins. "A lot of people are going to get opportunities for playing time. Multiple people playing a lot of different positions too." 

The pitching staff will continue to see familiar faces with the addition of two newcomers who will add depth to an experienced staff. The two additions of Maddie Johnson (5-9, Fr., Athens, Ga.) and Charla Clifton (5-6., Jr., Swainsboro, Ga.)  join Alana Barnard (5-10, Jr., Statesboro, Ga.), Bailey Holland (5-9, Jr., Vidalia, Ga.) and Morgan Kendrick (5-6., R-Jr., Fleming Island, Fla.) in the Eagle rotation. 

Davis (5-3, Jr., Grayson, Ga.) will lead the outfield in center field and will be joined by Kyla Maxwell (5-9, So., Snellville, Ga.), Brooke Kell (5-6, Jr., Marietta, Ga.), Madison Humber (5-5, Fr., McDonough, Ga.), Payton Cushman (5-8, Fr., St. Petersburg, Fla.), and Makayla Brantley (5-7, So., Smyrna, Del.) 

The infield will have a different look this season which will be made up by middle infielders Faith Barth (5-5, Sr., Dacula, Ga.) and Delanie Thames (5-9, So., Statesboro, Ga.) along with freshman Semira Tigg (5-0, Fr., Murfreesboro, Tenn.) and the corners will see a combination of Kayla Christensen (5-2, Fr., Palm Harbor, Fla.), Madi Gillespie (5-5, Jr., Bishop, Ga.), and Payton Cushman. 

The trio behind the dish includes Valerie Combs (5-8, So., Nashville, Ill.), Gracie Bellard (5-4., Sr., Opelousas, La.), and freshman Braelyn Queen (5-4, Fr., Monore, Ga.). 

Georgia Southern will compete in five tournaments before Sun Belt Conference play begins. The Eagles will once again host three tournaments at Beautiful Eagle Field: Bash in the Boro, GATA Challenge, and the Hail Southern Challenge. The Eagles will open the season on the road at the USF-Rawling Invitational in Tampa and will also travel to the Charge On Classic hosted by UCF. 

In conference play, the Eagles host series against Southern Miss, Georgia State, Coastal Carolina, and Marshall and are on the road against App State, Troy, ULM, and James Madison. In midweek action, Georgia Southern will compete against Charleston Southern, Mercer, Georgia, and Georgia Tech. 

"Just play our game," coach Perkins said on goals for the season. "I know we talk about certain stats or certain goals along the way, but I think trying not to do too much and coming out do what we do everyday. We try to put a lot of pressure on them every day in practice and want them to just come out and play ball."
 
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Players Mentioned

Alana Barnard

#00 Alana Barnard

RHP
5' 10"
Junior
R/R
Faith Barth

#44 Faith Barth

INF
5' 5"
Senior
L/R
Gracie Bellard

#3 Gracie Bellard

C/UT
5' 4"
Senior
L/R
Makayla Brantley

#21 Makayla Brantley

OF
5' 7"
Sophomore
R/R
Emma Davis

#2 Emma Davis

OF
5' 3"
Junior
L/L
Bailey Holland

#8 Bailey Holland

RHP
5' 9"
Junior
L/R
Brooke Kell

#15 Brooke Kell

OF/INF
5' 6"
Junior
L/R
Morgan Kendrick

#13 Morgan Kendrick

RHP
5' 6"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
Kyla Maxwell

#12 Kyla Maxwell

OF
5' 9"
Sophomore
R/R
Delanie Thames

#17 Delanie Thames

INF
5' 9"
Sophomore
R/R

Players Mentioned

Alana Barnard

#00 Alana Barnard

5' 10"
Junior
R/R
RHP
Faith Barth

#44 Faith Barth

5' 5"
Senior
L/R
INF
Gracie Bellard

#3 Gracie Bellard

5' 4"
Senior
L/R
C/UT
Makayla Brantley

#21 Makayla Brantley

5' 7"
Sophomore
R/R
OF
Emma Davis

#2 Emma Davis

5' 3"
Junior
L/L
OF
Bailey Holland

#8 Bailey Holland

5' 9"
Junior
L/R
RHP
Brooke Kell

#15 Brooke Kell

5' 6"
Junior
L/R
OF/INF
Morgan Kendrick

#13 Morgan Kendrick

5' 6"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
RHP
Kyla Maxwell

#12 Kyla Maxwell

5' 9"
Sophomore
R/R
OF
Delanie Thames

#17 Delanie Thames

5' 9"
Sophomore
R/R
INF