MOREHEAD, Ky. - The Georgia Southern rifle team opened its two-match weekend at No. 14 Morehead State Friday at the Button Rifle Range in icy Kentucky. Shooting a new lineup for the first time this season, the Eagles posted a 4,542 aggregate.

In smallbore, the team posted a 2,246 (fifth-highest in program history) with freshman Bella Gamez leading the way with a 562 to place tied for third. Sophomore Ashley Judson shot a 563 and freshman Amy Visconti posted a 561. Sophomore Lillian Herring shot a season-best 557, tying her career high set last season, while sophomore Gabby Morrow (554) and freshman Erin Ballard (550) contributed to the team tally.

Ballard set a personal best with a 195 in prone while Gamez set a new personal best with a 197 in prone. Herring posted a career-best 100 in her first set of shots of prone and finished with a 197, tying her personal best. The 197s are tied for the second-best score in program history. Morrow recorded a season-high 187 in kneeling and Visconti posted career bests in all three disciplines for a 561 total.

In air rifle, Judson led the way with a 584 to tie for fourth while Morrow posted a 574 to tie her season high once again. Ballard and Herring both posted a 569. Gamez posted a pair of 98s and 568, all career bests for her, while Visconti shot a 562.

Judson led the way with a 1,147 aggregate to place eighth. Gamez finished ninth with a 1,140 and both Morrow (1,128) and Herring (1,126) posted career highs.

Words From Coach Worman: "What a blessing this trip has been to our training objectives. Between the ice storm and an administrative curveball, plus the ever present spectre of COVID, we really got to take our resilience and adaptability out for a spin. I'm proud of the hard work that went into being ready for 'whatever.'  It's easy to train specifically to acquire a tool for a particular issue, but to be 'whatever' ready is true composure. Tomorrow we shall build on that platform."

THE SCORES
#14 Morehead State: 4,644 (2,291 smallbore; 2,353 air rifle)
Georgia Southern: 4,542 (2,246 smallbore; 2,296 air rifle)

THE INDIVIDUALS (Alphabetical Order)
Erin Ballard
Freshman - Reedsville, W.Va.
Smallbore - 550 (14th)
Air Rifle - 569 (T-12th)
Aggregate - 1,119

Bella Gamez
Freshman - San Antonio, Texas
Smallbore - 572 (T-3rd; CAREER HIGH)
Air Rifle - 568 (14th; CAREER HIGH)
Aggregate - 1,140 (9th; CAREER HIGH)

Lillian Herring
Sophomore - York, Pa.
Small Bore - 567 (11th; TIES CAREER HIGH)
Air Rifle - 569 (T-12th)
Aggregate - 1,126 (CAREER HIGH)

Ashley Judson
Sophomore - Acworth, Ga.
Smallbore - 563 (T-8th)
Air Rifle - 584 (T-4th)
Aggregate - 1,147 (8th)

Gabby Morrow
Sophomore - Locust Grove, Ga.
Smallbore - 554 (T-12th; CAREER HIGH)
Air Rifle - 574 (T-10th; TIES SEASON HIGH)
Aggregate - 1,128 (CAREER HIGH)

Amy Visconti
Freshman - Champlain, N.Y.
Small Bore - 561 (10th; CAREER HIGH)
Air Rifle - 562 (15th)
Aggregate - 562

Up Next: The Eagles will next be back on the line Saturday morning, once again taking on Morehead State in a match that begins at 8:30 a.m.