March 23, 2003
FURMAN USES FOUR RUN FIRST INNING TO TOP GEORGIA SOUTHERN, WIN OPENING SOUTHERN CONFERENCE SERIES
STATESBORO, GA. -- Sophomore Meagen Johnson hit a three-run home run and pitched six scoreless innings to lead Furman to a 6-0 victory over Georgia Southern in softball action Sunday afternoon at Eagle Field in Statesboro, Ga.
The Lady Paladins, 11-13 overall and 2-1 in Southern Conference play, wasted little time before taking control of the game. LaKerah Barr led off the game with an infield single and catcher Karen Myers reached base safely on a bunt. Johnson followed with a three-run homer down the right field line to give Furman a 3-0 advantage.
After Furman loaded the bases and chased Georgia SOuthern starter A.J. Street from the game, Jessica Griffin delivered the inning's fourth run on an RBI groundout.
Furman incresed its lead with single runs in the second and third innings. In the second, Johnson drove home Barr on a groundout to increase the Furman lead to 5-0. Barr capped the scoring in the third by driving in Ali McNulty on a bases loaded single to third base.
Johnson (5-7) limited the Eagles to just four hits in six innings, while Rachel Henley closed the game by pitching a scoreless seventh inning.
Barr led Furman with three hits and two runs scored. Johnson went 2-for-4 with while batting in four funs. Jssica Matthews also recorded two hits for the Lady Paladins.
Street (4-6) suffered the lose for Georgia Southern (17-13, 1-2), allowing four runs without retiring a Furman batter.
Furman returns to action Thursday when it hosts Charleston Southern in a doubleheader at 2 p.m.