STATESBORO – The Georgia Southern softball team (14-9) split day two of the Hail Southern Classic falling to Maryland 5-1 in game one before sliding past Rider, 4-0, on Saturday at Beautiful Eagle Field. 

Game One (Georgia Southern 1, Maryland 5)
Georgia Southern struck first in the third to take an early 1-0 lead. Emma Davis led off the inning with a double to left field before Kyla Maxwell drew a hit by pitch and Kayla Christensen walked to load the bases. Valerie Combs plated the Eagles lone run of the game on an RBI walk. 

Bailey Holland held the Terrapins scoreless through five innings before Maryland exploded for five runs in the sixth. Maryland tallied six hits and a walk to take the lead for the final, 5-1. 

The Eagles struggled offensively tallying just two hits to the Terrapins 10 hits in the contest. Southern left five runners on base and were 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position. Davis and Maxwell recorded the pair of hits for the Eagles. 

Holland suffered the loss tossing 6.1 innings allowing three runs on six hits while picking up four strikeouts. Morgan Kendrick tossed 0.2 innings allowing two runs on four hits in relief. 

Game Two (Georgia Southern 4, Rider 0) 
Georgia Southern looked to score in the third inning when Gracie Bellard drew a hit by pitch and advanced to third on a Christenesn single to right field but a groundout ended the threat. 

After three scoreless innings, Georgia Southern opened the scoring in the fourth as Delanie Thames launched her third home run of the season. Thames' two out two-run blast scored Barth who singled up the middle. 

The Eagles doubled its lead in the fifth on its second homer of the game to make it 4-0. Combs blasted her first home run of the season to score Gracie Bellard who led off the inning with a double to left field. 

Alana Barnard made her first start of the season and picked up her first win in the circle tossing six complete innings allowing just two hits and picked up her first strikeout. Charla Clifton pitched to the final three batters of the game, sitting them down in order. 

Faith Barth led the offense going 2-for-3 with a run scored as the Eagles totaled seven hits on the afternoon. 

Next Up 
The Eagles return to midweek action facing #14 Georgia on Wednesday, March 12 at Jack Turner Softball Stadium. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. and is set to be broadcast on SECN+.