The Georgia Southern University softball team hit the road again to participate in the University of South Florida Invitational in Tampa this weekend.

After the game against University of Arizona on Friday afternoon was cancelled due to weather, the Eagles took on the University of Wisconsin and Drake University Saturday afternoon in a double-header.  Eagles’ starting pitcher Sarah Purvis held Wisconsin to just two hits in the first six innings of the game, but the Badgers were able to reach base with a walk and single, giving Wisconsin 1-0 lead against GSU.

At the bottom of the seventh, Mackenzie Williams scored her first homerun of the season with a hit to the left center, tying the score 1-1 and forcing the game to go to an extra inning.  The Eagles were able to score on a double by Alexa Lewis, giving them a 2-1 lead. Wisconsin, however, was able to score two runs in the eighth via a bunt and a sacrifice fly, and later in the inning an error allowed a second run and gave the Badgers the lead 3-2.  The Eagles were unable to overcome the deficit and the game ended with a 3-2 Eagle loss.

The Eagles then faced the Drake Bulldogs in their second game of the day and experienced another outstanding pitching performance, this time by freshman Brooke Red. Reed tossed a two-hitter, allowing only two of the Bulldogs to reach a base and also striking out three batters in the outing as well.

GSU came up with all the offense it needed in the fourth inning when Andrea Tarashuk hit a double and allowed for Hanna Ennis to reach home plate.  A ground ball by Tabby Douberley then sent Tarashuk home and allowed the Eagles to achieve a 2-0 victory over the Bulldogs.

For the final game of the series, the Eagles faced University of South Florida on Sunday afternoon.  Purvis allowed for the Bulls to make only one hit during the first four innings, but USF was able to load the bases with one out in the sixth inning, and the Eagles allowed a single that would give the Bulls a 2-0 lead over GSU.

To open the seventh, Williams hit a single to right center. She was then replaced by pinch runner Breanna McLendon. An error by the Bulls allowed Shelby Morrill on base, but a pair of strikeouts stranded the runners on base and ended the game with 2-0 GSU loss.

The Eagles return home this weekend for the Eagle Classic, which begins with double-headers on Friday and Saturday starting at 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., and a final game on Sunday at 3:30 p.m.