Story Courtesy Georgia Southern sports information
ATHENS, GA - The eighth-ranked Georgia softball team exploded for five runs in the sixth inning, three off a home run by Courtney Knight, to advance to the championship round of the NCAA Athens Regional defeating Georgia Southern 11-6 Saturday afternoon.
The Bulldogs (53-14) will take on Florida State for the right to go to the Super Regional. FSU downed Georgia 3-2 earlier in the day. The Eagles end their season at 35-35, recording the second-most wins in school history.
“I think that we’re disappointed we didn’t win, but I don’t think that it determines the type of team that we are, just because we lost,” said GSU head coach Natalie Poole. “I think we have a good team and I’m very proud of them for making it this far.”
Tied 1-1 in the fourth, the Bulldogs crossed the plate three times, thanks in part to a two-run double by Ashley Godfrey.
Georgia Southern rallied to cut the margin to 4-3 in its half of the fourth. The Eagles loaded the bases with no outs on two walks and a single. Freshman Carrie Mixon (Statesboro, Ga.) singled home one run and senior Shanita Black (Fayetteville, N.C.) drove home the second with a fielder’s choice.
The Bulldogs doubled the lead with a run in the fifth before striking for five in the sixth, all with two outs. Kellie Middleton doubled with the bases loaded to score two and Knight capped off the outburst with a lined shot over the right-centerfield wall.
Following a one-hour lightning delay, the Eagle bats came out swinging, getting RBI hits from junior A.J. Street (Lilburn, Ga.) and Black, and a sacrifice fly from junior Heather Smith (Williamson, Ga.). But Kasi Carroll shut the door, ending the threat with a strikeout.
Saturday’s contest was the final one for three seniors: Black, Sam Steiner (Loxley, Ala.) and Gina Sterchi (Chattanooga, Tenn.). The trio holds the distinction of recording the most wins by a senior class in school history (120).
Mixon went 2-for-2 on the game and was a perfect 5-for-5 against Georgia in the tournament. Black (2-for-4) and Street (2-for-3) also posted multi-hit performances.