STATESBORO – Georgia Southern softball (21-13, 4-2 SBC) blanked in-state rival Georgia State (10-24, 2-5 SBC), 2-0, in the series opener on Friday night at Beautiful Eagle Field. 

Maddie Johnson was stellar in the circle tossing her fourth complete game shutout of the season to earn her 10th win on the year. The freshman tossed seven complete innings allowing just three hits and totaled six strikeouts. Johnson did not allow a free pass in the contest. 

Georgia Southern struck first in the second to take an early 1-0 lead over the Panthers. Madi Gillespie drew a two-out walk before Gracie Bellard doubled to left center field to drive in the first run of the game. 

The Eagles extended its lead, 2-0, in the third as Emma Davis scored on a Valerie Combs RBI double down the left field line. Davis reached on her first hit of the game, a single through the left side. 

Davis led the offense with her eighth multi-hit performance of the season going 2-for-2 with a double, run scored, and extended her hitting streak to nine games. Four additional Eagles tallied hits in the contest. Kayla Christensen extended her reached base streak to 21 games.

Next Up 
The Eagles are set for a doubleheader against Georgia State on Saturday at Beautiful Eagle Field. First pitch of game one is set for 6 p.m. with game two 30 minutes following the conclusion of the first. Both games are scheduled to be streamed on ESPN+.