USF 2, Georgia Southern 1 (9 innings)
GAINESVILLE, FLA. – Georgia Southern’s run through the NCAA Tournament came to an end on Saturday evening as the Eagles fell 2-1 to Big East Conference Champion USF in the second day of the Gainesville Regional. The Eagles staved off elimination earlier in the day with a perfect game in the pitching circle from Sarah Purvis to trump Hampton. The Eagles got down early, but scored an equalizing run in the sixth. USF pushed one across in the ninth off a throwing error and held on to take the win.
Georgia Southern falls to 32-30 on the season while USF improves to 45-15. The Eagles had their chances, stranding 10 runners on base and turning a pair of double plays. GSU left the bases full of Eagles in the bottom of the eighth, just a half inning before the Bulls posted their winning run.
After both teams went quietly in the first inning, USF bounced a single up the middle and got her around to third with a stolen base and a sacrifice bunt. The Bulls cashed in that runner from third base when a wild pitch sailed over the catcher’s head, allowing Kourtney Salvarola to score from third and give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
The Eagles drew even in the sixth inning when GSU capitalized on a leadoff triple by Alexa Lewis. The senior extended her career at the plate by at least one more trip with the three-bagger to the gap in right. She came home later in the inning on a Shelby Morrill RBI single. The Eagles would load the bases later in the frame, but were unable to push any more runs across as the score remained level at 1-1.
Georgia Southern had a golden opportunity in the eighth, loading the bases with one out with back-to-back walks and a hit batter. A strikeout and a 4-3 ground out ended the Eagle threat as the game went to the 9th frame.
A single by Dani Wyatt turned into trouble after a wild pitch advanced her to second. With two outs, Wyatt stole third and a wild throw to third went into left field. She rounded third and headed for home, scoring as the throw back to the plate was high and not in time. That run gave the Bulls a 2-1 lead with the Eagles coming to the plate in the 9th.
Three-straight strikeouts in the bottom of the ninth ended the Eagles’ season as USF took the 2-1 victory to eliminate Georgia Southern from the Gainesville Regional.
Brooke Red got the start and held the Bulls to just one run through 4.2 innings of work. She walked two and scattered five hits in the game, earning a no decision. Sarah Purvis came on in relief in the fifth, pitching the final 4.1 innings and not allowing an earned run. She took the loss and falls to 18-16 on the year. She also finishes the season without allowing an earned run in her final 29.1 innings of work in the season.
The loss ends the careers of Lewis, Douberley and Tarashuk. Two of the seniors, Douberley and Tarashuk, graduated from Georgia Southern last week and Lewis is set to walk after the fall semester.
Georgia Southern 3, Hampton 0
GAINESVILLE, FLA. – With elimination on the line, Sarah Purvis responded with her second career perfect game as the Eagles ousted Hampton from the NCAA Tournament, 3-0. It was the second perfect game in program history and gives the Eagles another chance against USF on Saturday evening at 6 p.m.
Sarah Purvis was masterful for her second career perfecto. She fanned six batters in the game as she pitched her way into the record books. She improves to 18-15 on the season as the Eagles survive and advance, moving to 32-29 on the season. Purvis has also not allowed an earned run in her last 25.0 innings of work.
Georgia Southern drew first blood in the bottom of the first by scoring the team’s first run of the regional. Alexa Lewis singled to right out of her leadoff position, whiile an error on Lexi Allen’s sacrifice bunt attempt put runners and second and third. Shelby Morrill drove the run in with one out to post a 1-0 lead through an inning of play.
The Eagles tacked on two more runs in the fifth when Shelby Morrill hit her seventh home run of the season over the fence in right. The two-run bomb also drove in Lewis for her second run of the day after the senior opened the inning with a walk. The runs bolstered the Eagle advantage to 3-0 through five.
The Eagles advance to face USF at 6 p.m. in an elimination game at the Gainesville Regional. The win is GSU’s second-ever victory in the NCAA Tournament and the first since 2006.