STATESBORO – Georgia Southern softball (18-12) swept Charleston Southern (10-15) in a midweek doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon at Beautiful Eagle Field. The Eagles shutout the Buccaneers, 6-0, in game one before taking game two, 8-2. 

The Eagles out hit the Buccaneers 19-10 and outscored them 14-2. 

Game One (Georgia Southern 6, Charleston Southern 0) 
Georgia Southern opened the scoring in the third frame to take a 1-0 lead after Payton Cushman recorded an RBI single to score Valerie Combs who led off the inning with a base hit. 

The Eagles would extend its lead plating five runs on four hits in the fourth making it 6-0. Gracie Bellard led off the inning with a double before Madison Humber drew a 16-pitch walk and then stole second to put runners in scoring position. Kayla Christensen pushed across the first run of the inning on an RBI sacrifice fly.

Emma Davis drove in the second run on an RBI single before scoring on an RBI fielder's choice. Delanie Thames continued the offensive explosion blasting her fifth homer of the season, a two-run shot just inside the foul pole. 

Alana Barnard made her third start of the season picking up her third victory. The junior tossed five complete innings allowing just three hits in the contest and added two strikeouts. Morgan Kendrick allowed just two hits in 2.0 innings of relief. 

Three Eagles produced multi-hit performances as seven of the nine Eagle batters tallied hits in the contest. 

Game Two (Georgia Southern 8, Charleston Southern 2) 
Charla Clifton made her first collegiate start and earned her first victory in the circle for the Eagles. Clifton allowed just two runs on four hits in a career high four innings of work and fanned two batters. 

The Georgia Southern offense batted around in the bottom of the opening frame jumping out to an early 5-0 lead. Christensen led off the inning with a walk and stolen base before moving to third on a Davis bunt single. A Buccaneer error would plate the Eagles' first run of the inning before a double steal would plate the second run. 

Faith Bath then recorded a walk and Thames would draw a hit by pitch to load the bases. A Cushman RBI single, Madi Gillespie hit by pitch, and Bellard RBI groundout would round out the final three runs of the frame. 

Thames stayed hot in the bottom of the second launching her second homer in as many games to make it 8-0. The sophomore launched a three-run shot for her sixth on the season. Davis and Barth reached on a pair of singles before scoring on the home run. 

Davis and Cushman led the offense with a pair of hits each as seven of the nine starters tallied hits in the contest. 

Next Up 
Georgia Southern travels to App State for a three-game conference series beginning on Friday at noon at Sywassink/Lloyd Field. The game is scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN+.