Saturday, February 21
Statesboro, GA
11:30 AM
Georgia Southern University
4-7
5
vs
0
Eastern Kentucky
4-7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Eastern Ky.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
Ga. Southern
3
1
0
0
1
0
X
5
9
0
Eagles Sweep Saturday with Shutout and Weather-Shortened Win
2/21/2026 6:50:00 PM | Softball
STATESBORO – Behind clutch offense and steady work in the circle, Georgia Southern (6-7) picked up two wins Saturday, blanking Eastern Kentucky 5-0 and then holding off Rhode Island 2-1 in a game called in the sixth inning due to weather.
vs. EKU (4-9)
The Eagles scored early and often while their pitching staff blanked the Colonels for the second straight game in the Georgia Southern GATA Challenge.
Georgia Southern struck first in the bottom of the opening inning.
After a walk and a double set the table, Delanie Thames delivered an RBI on a fielder's choice that brought home the game's first run. A two-run single by Jaycee Bilbrey extended the lead to 3-0 before the end of the frame.
The Eagles continued to build their advantage in the second, capitalizing on another walk and timely hitting.
Bilbrey drove in a run with a single in the second, and later in the game Valerie Combs belted a solo home run, her first of the season, to push Georgia Southern's lead to 5-0. Georgia Southern finished the day with nine hits, including a double from Thames and from Bilbrey.
With contributions up and down the lineup, Bilbrey was the offensive standout, going 4-for-4 with one RBI, a double and a stolen base. Kayla Christensen reached base three times, going 1-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk to spark the top of the order.
Valerie Combs provided the team's power, going 1-for-3 with a solo home run, her first of the season, to account for Georgia Southern's final run. Braelyn Queen and Carley Ramsden each registered a hit, and Queen added two RBI on her performance.
On the mound, senior pitcher Alana Barnard (1-4) threw six shutout innings, allowing just two hits with five strikeouts and no walks to earn the victory. Freshman reliever Kaylee Croft closed out the game in the seventh to preserve the Eagles' clean sheet.
Georgia Southern's balanced offensive effort and strong pitching performance helped them secure the series victory in front of a home crowd as the Eagles look to build momentum early in the day
vs. Rhode Island (3-3)
Georgia Southern secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Rhode Island, but the contest was cut short when inclement weather forced the game to be called at the top of the sixth inning.
Both teams battled through a competitive early portion of the game, with the Eagles jumping out to a lead before holding off a late rally from the visiting Rams to remain unbeaten in their all-time series against Rhode Island.
The Eagles struck first in the bottom of the second inning. After a series of disciplined at-bats put runners on, Georgia Southern pushed across a pair of runs thanks to timely contact and smart baserunning, giving them a 2-0 edge.
Rhode Island managed to respond with a run in the top of the sixth, tightening the score to 2-1, but Georgia Southern's defense and pitching held firm as the weather rolled in, ultimately preventing further play.
Though a handful of starters finished without hits, Georgia Southern manufactured both of its runs on the scoreboard before the game was halted due to the weather. Sophomore Queen finished 1-for-2 with a run scored, accounting for one of the Eagles' two tallies.
On the mound, Bailey Holland (3-2) earned the win for Georgia Southern in the rain-shortened outing. Holland worked 5.1 innings, allowing three hits and just one earned run, while issuing just three walks.
The win improves Georgia Southern's non-conference mark early in the 2026 season and gives the Eagles momentum as they continue through the final day of the GATA Challenge.
vs. EKU (4-9)
The Eagles scored early and often while their pitching staff blanked the Colonels for the second straight game in the Georgia Southern GATA Challenge.
Georgia Southern struck first in the bottom of the opening inning.
After a walk and a double set the table, Delanie Thames delivered an RBI on a fielder's choice that brought home the game's first run. A two-run single by Jaycee Bilbrey extended the lead to 3-0 before the end of the frame.
The Eagles continued to build their advantage in the second, capitalizing on another walk and timely hitting.
Bilbrey drove in a run with a single in the second, and later in the game Valerie Combs belted a solo home run, her first of the season, to push Georgia Southern's lead to 5-0. Georgia Southern finished the day with nine hits, including a double from Thames and from Bilbrey.
With contributions up and down the lineup, Bilbrey was the offensive standout, going 4-for-4 with one RBI, a double and a stolen base. Kayla Christensen reached base three times, going 1-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk to spark the top of the order.
Valerie Combs provided the team's power, going 1-for-3 with a solo home run, her first of the season, to account for Georgia Southern's final run. Braelyn Queen and Carley Ramsden each registered a hit, and Queen added two RBI on her performance.
On the mound, senior pitcher Alana Barnard (1-4) threw six shutout innings, allowing just two hits with five strikeouts and no walks to earn the victory. Freshman reliever Kaylee Croft closed out the game in the seventh to preserve the Eagles' clean sheet.
Georgia Southern's balanced offensive effort and strong pitching performance helped them secure the series victory in front of a home crowd as the Eagles look to build momentum early in the day
vs. Rhode Island (3-3)
Georgia Southern secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Rhode Island, but the contest was cut short when inclement weather forced the game to be called at the top of the sixth inning.
Both teams battled through a competitive early portion of the game, with the Eagles jumping out to a lead before holding off a late rally from the visiting Rams to remain unbeaten in their all-time series against Rhode Island.
The Eagles struck first in the bottom of the second inning. After a series of disciplined at-bats put runners on, Georgia Southern pushed across a pair of runs thanks to timely contact and smart baserunning, giving them a 2-0 edge.
Rhode Island managed to respond with a run in the top of the sixth, tightening the score to 2-1, but Georgia Southern's defense and pitching held firm as the weather rolled in, ultimately preventing further play.
Though a handful of starters finished without hits, Georgia Southern manufactured both of its runs on the scoreboard before the game was halted due to the weather. Sophomore Queen finished 1-for-2 with a run scored, accounting for one of the Eagles' two tallies.
On the mound, Bailey Holland (3-2) earned the win for Georgia Southern in the rain-shortened outing. Holland worked 5.1 innings, allowing three hits and just one earned run, while issuing just three walks.
The win improves Georgia Southern's non-conference mark early in the 2026 season and gives the Eagles momentum as they continue through the final day of the GATA Challenge.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Barnard, Alana (1-4)
L: T. Vigansky (2-1)
Base Running:
HBP: J. McLeod 1
Batting:
2B: Bilbrey, Jaycee 1 ; Thames, Delanie 1
HR: Combs, Valerie 1
RBI: Bilbrey, Jaycee 1 ; Thames, Delanie 1 ; Queen, Braelyn 2 ; Combs, Valerie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Christensen, Kayla 2 ; Bilbrey, Jaycee 1 ; Thames, Delanie 1 ; Combs, Valerie 1
SB: Christensen, Kayla 1 ; Bilbrey, Jaycee 1
CS: Bilbrey, Jaycee 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
4
RBI
1
AB
3
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
dp/c
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
LHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballC
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballThe GATA Zone - Air Rifle
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