#3 Georgia Southern 3, #7 Furman 2
GSU-FUR Box Score
CHATTANOOGA, TN ? Georgia Southern used a dominating pitching performance from Logan Free to defeat Furman 3-2 and force a decisive final game in the 2006 Southern Conference Softball Championship at Frost Stadium.
Free pitched a complete-game four-hitter against Furman, striking out seven in the contest to improve to 15-12 on the season.
The Eagles retook the lead in the top of the seventh inning when with the bases loaded, Furman starting pitcher Blake Murray walked in the go-ahead run to give GSU the lead at 3-2.
Georgia Southern wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard in the championship game with Furman. The Eagles’ Shanita Black reached base on a throwing error by Furman third baseman Abby Robertson that allowed the speedster to make her way to second and in scoring position.
Aurora Johnson then sacrificed bunted to move Black to third before Black scored to make it 1-0 on a Heather Smith groundout to the shortstop.
Two innings later, Black found her way to the plate once again, scoring on a wild pitch by Furman Murray.
Black, who singled and then stole second base for her 35th stolen base of the season to tie Furman’s LaKerah Barr for third all-time in SoCon single season history, advanced to third on a Johnson groundball to the shortstop.
Furman garnered its first run of the contest in the bottom of the third inning, making the game 2-1 on an error by Black in centerfield. Joni Lockridge hit the softball almost to the warning track, but Black could not bring the ball into her glove allowing Jess Mathis to score from second base.
The Lady Paladins tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning when Lockridge’s double to right field plated Amber Kiser.