Georgia Southern scored the final 10 runs over three innings to collect 10-2 win over Appalachian State, completing a Sun Belt Conference softball sweep over the visiting Mountaineers on Friday afternoon at Eagle Field.
The Eagles (14-20, 4-8 SBC) claimed their first Sun Belt sweep of the season with the six-inning win over the Mountaineers (18-18, 1-9 SBC), who saw their current losing streak reach eight. Georgia Southern returns to action on Wednesday, traveling to No. 14-ranked Georgia for a 6:30 p.m. contest against the Bulldogs.
App State plated a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning, loading the bases against Eagle starter Bailey Holland. After a two-run single by Riley Becker, however, reliever Morgan Kendrick got Ambry Lucas to line out to third baseman Olivia Creamer, and Creamer tagged the runner at third for an unassisted double play to end the inning.
The Eagles plated a single run in the bottom of the fourth on a first and third play, where the errant throw from catcher Kylie LaRousa allowed Emma Davis to score.
Courtney Ball then put Georgia Southern in front with a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth for a 3-2 advantage.
The game ended in the bottom of the sixth as the Eagles sent 13 batters to the plate in a seven-run frame. Olivia Creamer and Ball had two-run singles in the inning and the game ended with App State pitcher Kaylie Northrop hitting Janai Conklin with the bases loaded for the 10th and final run.
Kendrick (8-2) notched the win in relief for the Eagles, giving up one hit in 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief, walking one while striking out two. Sejal Neas (6-5) took the loss for the Mountaineers, giving up seven hits and six runs - three earned - in five-plus innings of work, striking out four.
Ball went 2-for-4 with four RBI to pace the Eagles offensively, while Conklin went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI.
