Samford 12, George Washington 4

SPARTANBURG, S.C. ---- Despite the game being called in the middle of the seventh inning due to snow, Samford didn't need any help from Mother Nature in a convincing 12-4 win over George Washington Saturday at the Spartan Invitational.

Samford (3-4) was led at the plate by Caroline Seay, who had an incredible day at the plate going 4-5 while driving in four of the Bulldogs 12 runs with two singles, a double and a triple.  It is Seay's first career four-hit performance and the first for any Bulldog since April 1 of last season.  Kayla Shaffer and Callie Brister each earned a pair of hits and combined for four runs.  Madison Dickey went 1-4 on the day, scoring two and extending her hitting streak to four games.

Aldridge (1-0) earns the win in the circle, pitching the third and fourth innings before the Bulldogs took the lead in the top of the fifth.  Shelby Scott started the game, pitching the first 2.0 innings, while Mollie Hanson entered in the fifth and threw 2.0 as well.

George Washington (1-5) struggled with control on the mound throughout the game, allowing eight walks on top of 12 hits and three fielding errors.  Meghan Rico (1-3) started the game and exited after pitching 4.0 innings and loading the bases in the top of the fifth.

Defensive miscues hurt the Bulldogs early in the bottom of the first.  A leadoff walk and a passed ball put a runner on second base and the second batter reached on a throwing error, advancing all the way to third as the runner scored to make it 1-0.  A sacrifice fly brought another run home to make it 2-0, the second unearned run of the inning.  George Washington would get two more runners on base but a groundout to third ended the inning with Samford in an early two-run hole.

Luck started swinging the Bulldogs' way in the top of the second, as Shaffer extended her at-bat thanks to a dropped foul ball by the right fielder.  She was eventually walked as was Brister right behind her to put two on with nobody out.  Caroline Wilder dropped a bunt to sacrifice the pair into scoring position and, following an infield popup, Seay dropped a hit into left field to score Shaffer and move Brister to third, cutting the deficit in half and putting runners at the corners with two away.  Seay would be out on the force at second base the following play, leaving two stranded but drawing Samford within one.

With runners at first and second in the bottom of the second inning, George Washington's Carlee Gray would single into right field, scoring one and advancing to second on the throw to put two in scoring position with two out.  A popup would end the inning and limit the damage as the Colonials could only extend their lead by one, up 3-1 through two innings.

Aldridge entered to pitch for the Bulldogs in the bottom of the third, as Shelby Scott's day ended after 2.0 innings with only one earned run.  The Colonials put two runners on with one out as both advanced into scoring position off a passed ball.  A gutsy steal attempt backfired as both runners were out the following play, keeping the lead within reach for the Bulldogs.

With one out in the top of the fourth, Abby Adams was walked and Seay followed that up with her second hit of the day to put two on with one away.  Batting ninth, Arica Dykes was walked to load the bases and turn it back to the top of the order.  Megan Dowdy reached on a fielder's choice as Adams was tagged out at home, leaving the bases loaded with two out.  Dickey earned a tough RBI as she was hit by a pitch to bring a runner home and pull the Bulldogs within one run.  A fly ball to the first baseman in foul territory ended the top half of the inning with Samford now within striking distance, trailing 3-2.

After shutting down the Colonials in order in the bottom of the fourth, Shaffer led off the top of the fifth with a single, her second of the day, and Brister followed that with a double to put two in scoring position right away for the Bulldogs.  Wilder was hit by a pitch to load the bases and that ended the day for Rico in the circle as Courtney Martin entered to pitch for the Colonials in a tough spot.  Abby Adams hit a grounder to third base, reaching on a fielder's choice as Shaffer was forced out at home leaving the bases loaded with one away.  A strikeout put two outs on the board but good patience at the plate by Dykes drew a bases-loaded walk, scoring the tying run.  The Bulldogs took the lead with yet another bases-loaded walk, as Dowdy reached first with the Bulldogs now up 4-3.  Dickey hit a grounder to second, reaching on a fielder's choice, but the Colonials could not get a runner out on the play as Adams scored to extend Samford's lead to 5-3.  Yet another bases-loaded fielder's choice, this time by Alex Adams, scored a run with the Bulldogs moving up 6-3 before a groundout finally stopped the bleeding to end the half-inning.

Control issues in the circle continued for George Washington in the top of the sixth, as Brister drew a leadoff walk which ended the day for Martin as Chelsey Pedley entered the game.  After Brister reached second on a groundout, Seay added on to a great day at the plate by doubling to right field, scoring Brister to make it 7-3.  Dykes followed that with a single as Seay advanced to third and scored off an errant throw, adding another run to make it 8-3 Samford.  A flyout ended the inning but the Bulldogs further extended their lead to five runs.

Samford couldn't rest easy with the lead however, as the bases were quickly loaded in the bottom half of the inning with nobody out.  After a strikeout, Victoria Valos reached on a fielder's choice and Samford got the runner out at second, allowing the run to score as it was now 8-4 with runners at the corners and two away.  A strikeout ended the half-inning with the lead trimmed to four runs.

Samford tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh, as Brister hit a one-out RBI single through the right side, scoring Dickey and moving Alex Adams to third.  After a lineout, Abby Adams added another run with a single through the left side making the score 10-4.  Seay unloaded the bases with a two-run triple, her fourth hit of the day, to further extend the lead to 12-4.  The game was called soon after because of snow as the Bulldogs earned a convincing eight-run victory over George Washington.

Samford concludes play at the Spartan Invitational tomorrow, playing two games.  First, the Bulldogs face the Bowling Green Falcons (1-0) at 11 a.m. ET before facing the USC Upstate Spartans (6-0) at 3 p.m. ET.

The game against USC Upstate will be live streamed for free on the Atlantic Sun Conference's streaming site, www.asun.tv.

Western Carolina 3, Charleston Southern 0

No. 5 Florida 5, Western Carolina 0

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Western Carolina softball (5-3) split day two action at the Lipton Florida Invitational Saturday, defeating Charleston Southern 3-0, in eight innings, and falling to No. 5 Florida (10-0) 5-0 at KSP Stadium.

Western Carolina 3, Charleston Southern 0

Sophomore pitcher Jordan Garrett tossed a complete eight inning two hit shutout, fanning 10 batters, in Western Carolina's 3-0 win over Charleston Southern. Garrett improved to 3-2 on the season. It was the second straight shutout for the Catamounts in the tournament.

The two teams went seven scoreless innings pushing the game to extra innings, the first of the season for Western Carolina. Per international rules, the last batter from the previous inning is placed on second to start the extra inning.

Freshman Amber Kimrey, who was put in the game as a pinch runner for Megan Crowe, was placed on second and it didn't take long for Western Carolina to capitalize. With one out, senior centerfielder Jordan Fulton laced a double to left field to score Crowe and break the scoreless game. Fellow senior Shemekia Scotton hit the second double of the inning to score Fulton. With two outs, Haley Pace tacked on the third run when she hit an RBI single to score Scotton.

Garrett got into a bit of a jam in Charleston Southern's half of the eighth inning. With a runner placed on second, Charleston Southern got its second hit of the game placing runners at first and third. Garrett got a strikeout and two ground outs to end the threat and the game.

Western Carolina had six hits in the game, two from Fulton.

No. 5 Florida 5, Western Carolina 0

Freshman Taylor Sigmon (0-1) got the first start of her Catamount career on the mound against No. 5 Florida to close out day two of the tournament. Sigmon rose to the challenge, setting the high-powered offensive minded Gators on their heels, allowing just six hits, five runs and striking out nine. Sigmon also accounted for two of the Catamounts four hits.

Early in the game, Western Carolina also challenged Florida on the bases. In the second inning, Sigmon doubled and threatened to score when she was sacrificed over to third. Florida held the Catamounts back forcing two pop-ups.

With two outs, in the third inning, Amelia Griffin singled and Fulton reached on a Gator error allowing the Catamounts to threaten again. Scotton ground out to end the inning.

After giving up a run in the top of the first inning, Sigmon sat down 10 of the next 11 Gator batters before giving up the second run of the game. In the fifth inning, Florida added a second run when Briana Little singled and then scored off an RBI groundout by Kathlyn Medina.

Florida added three more runs when Jessica Damico hit a three-run homerun.

So far, in the tournament hosted by Florida, Western Carolina is the only team to take the Gators to a full seven inning game.

Western Carolina closes out the Lipton Florida Tournament Sunday facing Savannah State at 9 a.m.

FGCU 6, Appalachian State 3

Wichita State 4, Appalachian State 3

FT. MYERS, Fla. - Appalachian State University softball fell to Florida Gulf Coast, 6-3, in its morning game before dropping a 4-3 decision to Wichita State in the nightcap on day two of the FGCU/LaQuinta Inn & Suites Invitational on Saturday.

Game 1: FGCU 6, App State 3

The Mountaineers threatened to score in the bottom of the second as Caroline Rogers had a leadoff double down the left field line and would advance to third on an Alex Sohl groundout, but would be left stranded as the game headed into the third inning.

Florida Gulf Coast scored the first run of the contest when they led off the inning with a double to left center. A sacrifice bunt advanced Mariah Fernandez to third base and she would come around to score on a wild pitch, giving the Eagles a 1-0 lead. The Apps were able to get out the inning without allowing any more runs as senior Allie Cashion caught a deep fly ball in left center for the third out.

The Black and Gold offense responded to the FGCU run in the bottom of the third inning as freshman Kristen Terry had a lead off bunt and stole second. Terry advanced to third on a groundout from Dani Heichen and came around to score when Sarah Warnock reached first on an error by the Eagle defense.

Both Meghan Smith and Lindsay Loudermilk reached first as they were hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second for Appalachian in the bottom of the fourth. Smith advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Rogers before Sohl reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases with two outs. The Apps were unable to push a run across the plate, leaving the score tied at 1-1.

Florida Gulf Coast took the 2-1 lead over the Apps in the top of the fifth inning when Fernandez hit a leadoff home run over the right field fence. The Eagles tacked on three more runs in the top of the fifth as Chelsea Zgrabik hit a three run homerun over the left field fence, giving FGCU the 5-1 lead over App State.

Appalachian loaded the bases for the second time in the bottom of the sixth inning as Rogers walked, Sohl singled through the right side and Cynthia Gomez reached first on an error. Heichen drove in the Apps first run when she singled through the right side of the infield scoring Rogers.

Sohl crossed home when Warnock would find the right side gap for the third time in the inning, bringing the Black and Gold within two of FGCU. Eagles' pitcher Jaclyn Owen earned a strikeout to close out the inning and head into the seventh with a 5-3 lead over the Mountaineers.

Florida Gulf Coast tacked on one run in the top of the seventh on a single up the middle to give them the 6-3 lead.

Smith led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a walk as she looked to get a rally going for App State. Rogers advanced Smith to second with a hard hit single to right field and Sohl would load the bases for Appalachian with a shallow fly ball to right center field.

The Apps would come up empty, however, and Florida Gulf Coast escaped with a victory despite a myriad of scoring opportunities for the Mountaineers.

App State had nine hits compared to FGCU's eight, but left 12 runners on-base compared to the Eagles' eight. With the loss Appalachian falls to 1-2 overall on the season, while Florida Gulf Coast improves to 3-2 overall.

Warnock led the Mountaineers with three hits and one run batted in, while Heichen had one hit and one run batted in. Starting pitcher Alissa Schoelkopf suffered the loss in the circle (0-1), pitching 4.2 innings with five strikeouts, while Shivaun Landeros pitched 2.1 innings in relief with two strikeouts and allowing no earned runs.

Game 2: Wichita State 4, App State 3

Appalachian got the offense going early in the first inning as the first two batters drew walks and Heichen scored off single up the middle from Rogers. The Mountaineers put their second run on the board when Loudermilk knocked a single to left field that would score Warnock from third.

Wichita State came within one of the Apps in the bottom of the third on three-straight singles with only one out but the App State defense was able to get the last two outs before the Shockers could push another run across the plate.

The Black and Gold looked to start another offensive strike in the top of the fifth when Heichen drew a walk and stole second. A Cashion single through the left side of the infield would advance Heichen to third and she would come around to score on a wild pitch from Katie Armagost, giving App the 3-1 lead over the Shockers.

In the top of the sixth inning, Wichita State strung together three hits that would score two runs and knot the score at 3-3 with no outs and a runner on second. The Apps were able to get out of the inning without allowing any more runs to score as Landeros struck out two and Gomez caught a pop up at short stop.

Two walks and an error by the Black and Gold in the bottom of the seventh inning would allow Wichita State to take the 4-3 victory.

The Mountaineers had four hits from four different players on the roster, while Smith and Loudermilk would each add an RBI and Heichen scored twice. Landeros pitched 6.2 innings, taking the loss (1-2) with four strikeouts and allowing three earned runs.

With the loss Appalachian falls to 1-3 overall on the season, while Wichita State improves to 2-6 overall on the season.

Warnock led the Mountaineers on day two as she recorded four hits and one run batted in, while Heichen had one hit, one run batted in and scored twice.

App State will be back in action on Sunday, Feb. 17 when they play a rematch against the Shockers in its final game of the FGCU/LaQuinta Inn & Suites Invitational. First pitch is scheduled for 11:15 a.m.

ETSU 10, College of Charleston 9

Syracuse 11, College of Charleston 0

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - The College of Charleston softball team suffered a pair of losses in the second day of the CofC Classic at Patriots Point on Saturday evening. The Cougars suffered a heartbreaking, 10-9 defeat to East Tennessee State and couldn't regroup before facing a hot-batted Syracuse team.

CofC (0-3) suffered more early-inning woes and surrendered a combined-nine runs between the first two innings of the games.

The Cougars surged back against the Buccaneers with a six-run sixth to post a 9-8 lead heading into the last inning, but a two-run homerun shattered the lead and allowed ETSU to escape with the win.

CofC then immediately turned around to face Syracuse which sent five balls out of the park in five innings.

The Cougars conclude the Classic on Sunday with games against Towson and Akron. CofC is slated to take the field at 2 p.m. with Towson and face Akron immediately after.

ETSU: 10, COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON: 9

A cold rain began to fall as CofC took the field and the Cougars did not negotiate the conditions in the early going, committing three fielding errors in the first inning which led to four ETSU runs.

After settling in, the Cougar bats came to life in the third inning. Courtney Clark (Tampa, Fla.) led off the frame when she sliced a ball down the left field line and legged out a double. Two batters later, Ashton Jarrett (Hanahan, S.C.) also doubled down the left field line but Clark was held at third after waiting to see if the ball would be caught on the fly. With two outs in the inning, Mackenzie Maples (Corona, Calif.) delivered a two-RBI double into the gap in left center to cut the lead to 4-2.

That score would hold until the fifth inning when the Lady Bucs produced three doubles of their own and added a run-scoring single to extend their lead to 7-2.

In the bottom of the fifth, freshman Rebecca Mueller (Fair Oaks, Calif.) led off with a single off the pitcher and advanced to second on Jarrett's sacrifice bunt. Carly Corthell (Reno, Nev.) singled to center to bring Mueller around to score and cut the lead back to four runs once again.

After a clean top of the sixth, the Cougars triggered a spirited rally to get back into the game. Katie O'Brien (Middletown, N.J.) drew a walk and Clark legged out an infield single before Jarrett singled up the middle to score O'Brien. Then, with two outs, Corthell and Maples both drew walks to load the bases and Kelsey Hodgson (Woodstock, Ga.) emptied them when she crushed a double into the gap in left center to tie the game. Hodgson alertly took third on the play when the Bucs tried to throw Jarrett out at the plate, and she later scored the go-ahead run on Chandler Frisbie's (Lawrenceville, Ga.) RBI single.

The Cougars' 9-8 lead was short lived, unfortunately, as the Katie Wolff singled to start the seventh and Jackie Baird drove a two-run homerun out to left. CofC would have no answer in its half of the seventh, and the Cougars were stung with the loss.

SYRACUSE: 11, COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON: 0

The Cougars then met the power-hitting Orange which scored all 11 of its runs with the top five hitters in the lineup.

Veronica Grant and Jasmine Watson both hit a pair of homeruns, and Julie Wambold added a fifth which combined for 10 RBIs. The trio hit back-to-back-to-back homeruns in the top of the second inning.

The Cougar bats didn't have an answer for Orange pitcher Stacy Kuwick who threw all five innings of the shortened game and struck out as many hitters as she let reach base.

Mueller provided the Cougars' only hit when she put a ball into the hole of the right side of the infield and beat all the defensive players to first base for an infield single.

Chattanooga 9, Indiana State 2

Chattanooga 9, Tennessee State 1

The Chattanooga Lady Mocs softball team (3-5) claimed back-to-back wins Saturday night in Auburn, Ala. at the Auburn University Tiger Invitational with a 9-2 win over Indiana State and a 9-1 victory over the Tennessee State Tigers.

Senior Kasey Tydingco (Fairfield, Calif.) was dominant at the plate in both games, going a combined 5-for-6 with four RBI and two runs scored. Along with Tydingco, five more Lady Mocs registered multiple hits, including Sara Poteat (Thomaston, Ga.), Sarah Beth Roberts (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) and Tyler Templet (Woodstock, Ga.) with three each.

Starter Kaisey Carson (Indianapolis, Ind.) dealt her first collegiate win and Chattanooga's first complete game of the season against ISU. The freshman allowed just four hits, while sophomore Taylor Deason (Clarksville, Tenn.) and freshman Rachel Albritton (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) combined to one-hit Tennessee State in the second game.

Chattanooga 9 - Indiana State 2

Chattanooga attacked the ball early in the first inning with four hits and four runs to jump out to a 4-0 lead on the Sycamores. Senior Poteat led things off after being hit by a pitch and moved into scoring position as freshman Sam Taylor (Chickamauga, Ga.) grounded out. Anyssa Robles doubled to center field in the next at-bat to put the Lady Mocs on the board. Tydingco followed up with an RBI single to drive in the freshman catcher. A Stephanie Rieck (Chandler, Ariz.) single to center put runners on first and second, and Carson reached on an error to drive in another run. The Lady Mocs wrapped up the scoring in the first inning with Templet singling in a runner.

While both team were scoreless through the second and third innings, Indiana State got on the board in the top of the fourth with two runs. Giving up three of just four hits for the entire game in that innings, Carson ran into her only bump in the road. A sacrifice fly and RBI single from Indiana State right fielder Halee Myers and left fielder Megan Bunting, respectively, cut the UTC lead to 4-2.

After a scoreless fifth inning, the Chattanooga bats came alive again in the sixth with a five-run inning. Carson began the inning with a walk and Templet reached on another ISU error. A sacrifice bunt from Alyssa Taylor (Orange, Calif.) moved runners up a base and Poteat singled to right to drive in both runners. Pinch hitting for Sam Taylor, Amanda Ross (Torrance, Calif.) walked to put two on. Sophomore Roberts singled to second base to plate Poteat and another Tydingco hit brought Roberts and Ross around to score.

Carson went the distance with seven innings pitched, allowing only four hits and two runs. The freshman stayed ahead of Sycamore batters, walking none and striking out two. Carson faced just 26 batters.

On offense -along with Tydingco's 4-for-4 performance- Poteat, Robles, Roberts, Rieck, Templet, Carson and both Taylor each recorded hits. Tydingco accounted for three runs while Poteat drove in two. Robles, Roberts and Templet each batted in a runner.

Chattanooga -- - Tennessee State --

The Lady Mocs fell behind 1-0 in the first inning after Tennessee State was able to capitalize on a couple of walks issued by starting pitcher Rachel Albritton (Murfreesboro, Tenn.). Despite striking out TSU's Audrey Sensing, the final strike bounced away from Robles and required the catcher to throw to first for the out. While Sensing was out at first, Kiarra Freeman took advantage of the throw and scored on the play.

Chattanooga struck back in the bottom half of the inning, driving in six runs on six hits. The first six batters in the lineup reached by either hit or walk. Poteat reached on a bunt and Sam Taylor singled through the left side to put two runners on. Robles walked to load the bases and Roberts drove in the first Chattanooga run on a single to left. Tydingco and Rieck followed up with back-to-back hits to drive in one runner each. Templet later singled in another run before Poteat reached on an error to score another run.

The Lady Mocs added on three more runs in the fourth inning as Poteat tripled with one out. With Jenny Garcia (Miami, Fla.) entering to pinch hit for Sam Taylor, the redshirt freshman hammered a near-homerun off of the left field fence. Garcia pulled into second with a double and Poteat scored on the hit. Robles walked in the next at-bat and Roberts singled to drive in Garcia. Rieck then reached on a fielder's choice, and a fielding error committed by the left fielder allowed Robles to score.

Up 9-1 in the fifth, Chattanooga shut the Tigers out in the top of the fifth inning to end the game. The only TSU hit came in the fifth when Kacie Daugherty singled to the shortstop.

The win is Deason's second of the season as she improves to 2-3, leading Chattanooga pitchers in wins.

Chattanooga wraps up the Tiger Invitational Sunday at 3 p.m. as it takes on the hosting Auburn Tigers. The Lady Mocs return to Chattanooga next weekend to host the Frost Classic Inspired by Memorial. Live stats and audio are available free and begin 10 minutes before first pitch.

UNCG 2, Eastern Illinois 0

UNCG 1, Belmont 0

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The UNCG softball team used back-to-back shutouts against Eastern Illinois (W, 4-0) and Belmont (W, 1-0) to sweep Day Two Saturday night at the Barbara Williams softball complex.

Redshirt junior Raeanne Hanks (Rainier, Ore./Rainier Senior) earned a complete game shutout against Belmont to improve to 4-1 on the season. Hanks threw seven innings, allowing just two hits with six strikeouts. On day, she completed nine innings without giving up a run.

UNCG 2, Eastern Illinois 0

In game one, freshman Kelly Lupton (Galloway, N.J./Absegami) earned her first career victory after throwing five innings, allowing just two hits with five strikeouts. Hanks pitched the final two innings in relief to earn the save.  

Freshman Danielle Vega (Rialto, Calif./Aquinas) paced the Spartans with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate, while freshman Lindsay Thomas (Irvine, Ca./Northwood) went 1-for-3 with a solo home run.    

The Spartans took an early lead after junior Katelyn Bedwell (Surrey, British Columbia/Elgin Park Secondary) lined an RBI single in the top of the first. Vega roped a one-out double to left center to put a runner in scoring position for UNCG. After a groundout, Bedwell came through with the two-out RBI. Senior Eileen Horsmon (Dunkirk, Md./Northern) and classmate Aubrey Baldwin (Tucson, Ariz./Catalina Foothills) hit back-to-back singles to load the bases but UNCG came away with just one run.

In the top of the third, Thomas blasted a one-out home run to deep centerfield for her fourth of the season.

Eastern Illinois had an opportunity in the bottom of the fifth when the Panthers put runners on first and third. After a one-out walk to Ally Seplak, Lupton struck out Melise Brown swinging for the second out. Seplak advanced to third after a wild pitch and a throwing error. Carly Willert walked to set up runners at the corners but Lupton earned another strikeout to end the threat. 

UNCG 1, Belmont 0

In game two, Hanks was able to win the rematch against Belmont, 1-0, after an RBI single from Lindsay Thomas proved to be the game-winning hit.

UNCG scored the first run after back-to-back doubles from Vegas and Lindsay Thomas to put the Spartans up 1-0. Both hits were with two outs to give UNCG the lead in the bottom of the third.

Vegas finished the day with a team-high four hits.

UNCG concludes the Hornet Invitational Sunday, Feb. 17 against Eastern Illinois at 11 a.m. at the Barbara Williams Softball complex.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 16, 2013

Contact: AJ Henderson - Athletics Media Relations

Softball Takes No. 1 Alabama to Extra Innings in Day Two at FGCU Tournament

Eagles fall twice in second day of the tournament

Southern Illinois 10, Georgia Southern 1

No. 1 Alabama 2, Georgia Southern 1 (9 innings)

FORT MYERS, FLA. - Just one day removed from the first perfect game in program history, the Eagles came just three outs away from the biggest upset in program history, taking No. 1 Alabama to nine innings before falling 2-1 in the second game of Saturday afternoon. In the morning contest, GSU dropped a 10-1 decision to Southern Illinois.

- GAME ONE - GSU 1, Southern Illinois 10 -

Georgia Southern opened the second day of the FGCU/LaQuinta Inn at the Airport Tournament by drawing first blood in the first inning. After a two-out double by Tabby Douberley, Kourtny Thomas tallied her eighth RBI of the season with a single to plate Douberley and give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.

Southern Illinois, a day removed from being stymied by the Eagles in Sarah Purvis' perfect game, exploded for 10-straight runs down the stretch to best the Eagles 10-1.

- GAME TWO - GSU 1, Alabama 2 (9 Inn.)  -

In a game that was circled from the day the schedule was released, Georgia Southern gave the defending national champion all it could handle on Saturday afternoon. With ace Sarah Purvis in the circle, GSU held the top-ranked team scoreless for the first eight innings of play, surviving an inning of international tiebreaker play.

GSU had a scare in the bottom of the eighth inning as the tiebreaker runner reached third base on a bunt and the Crimson Tide attempted a sacrifice fly. Alexa Lewis caught the fly ball for the out and gunned the ball home where A.J. Hamilton administered the tag, keeping the scores level at 0-0.

The Eagles were first to strike, plating a run off an error in the 9th inning. Lewis crossed the plate to give GSU a 1-0 lead thanks to a throwing error. Lexi Allen dropped a bunt single, advancing Lewis on the play, but an errant throw by the Crimson Tide backstop allowed the senior to score easily from third base. Three-straight strikeouts, however, stranded another run in scoring position.

In the bottom of the frame GSU issued walks to load the bases, paving the way for Danae Hays to deliver a game-winning double, allowing Alabama to escape with the 2-1 win.

Sarah Purvis had a stellar game, holding Alabama to seven hits overall and off the scoreboard for eight innings. She falls to 4-1 on the season in 8+ innings of work on the day with three strikeouts.

Georgia Southern puts a bow on the FGCU Tournament on Sunday afternoon, facing the hosts on Sunday afternoon at approximately 1:30 p.m. in Fort Myers.