STATESBORO, Ga. (Georgia Southern) – The Georgia Southern softball program saw its seniors go out in style, sweeping the Southern Conference series over Elon with a 7-4 victory on Sunday in the final home game of the regular season. The Eagles (26-23, 12-8 SoCon) never trailed the Phoenix (33-17, 15-9 SoCon) in the final game of their three game set, taking a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Georgia Southern tacked on three more in the bottom of the third inning to stretch the lead to 6-0. Sophomore Marie Fogle (Rincon, Ga.) sparked the Eagles with a one-out single in the first, and advanced to third on a throwing error by Elon pitcher Erin O’Shea, after O’Shea dropped a pop-up by junior Megen Smith (Springfield, Ga.), giving the Eagles runners at first and third. Senior Jenny Side (Loganville, Ga.) was hit by a pitch to load the bases for senior Sam Russo (Snellville, Ga.). The Eagle first baseman delivered with a two-RBI single through the left side of the infield. Side was able to score on a groundout by senior Kelly Burnett (Boynton Beach, Fla.) for the Eagles’ third run of the inning. In the third inning, it was again Fogle who led the offensive charge, leading off with her third home run of the season. Smith scored on a sacrifice fly by Russo, and Side came in on Burnett’s second RBI of the game. Elon scratched for three runs in the top of the fourth on a three-run home run by Kaitlyn Piazzolla. Georgia Southern got one of the three runs back in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI-single by Smith, scoring senior Nina Iduate (Norcross, Ga.). The Phoenix scored another run in the top of the fifth on an RBI-single by Hannah Shelton, but junior pitcher Brianna Streetmon (Clyo, Ga.) only allowed one hit over the final two innings of the game for her third win of the series. Streetmon (18-9) allowed four runs, three earned, on six hits with two strikeouts in seven innings of work for her second complete game win of the series and third overall. O’Shea (15-7) was charged with the loss after allowing six runs, three earned, on three hits with three walks and no strikeouts. Fogle finished the game 3-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored. Russo was 1-for-3 with three RBIs, and Burnett drove in a pair of runs. Smith reached safely in four plate appearances, going 1-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored. Side was 1-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored. The Eagles will wrap up the regular season in Greenville, S.C., with a doubleheader on Sunday, May 9, scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Game three of the series is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. on Monday
Lady Eagles sweep Elon with 7-4 victory on senior day
