Statesboro, Ga. – Georgia Southern posted a four-run sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie en route to a 5-1 victory over Furman in softball action Sunday afternoon at the Eagle Round Robin in Statesboro, Ga.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, reliever Morgan Smith issued a leadoff walk to Mekhia Freeman. After Furman reentered starter Bailey Tanner, Faith Shirley laced a two-run homer to left to put the Eagles ahead 3-1. A one-out single and double set the table for Shelby Barfield's RBI single and Olivia Creamer's sacrifice fly to extend the Eagles' lead to 5-1.
 
Kyleigh Richardson retired the Paladins in order in the top of the seventh to earn the victory and improve to 2-0 in the circle. She allowed just a run on six hits in a complete-game effort.
 
Furman jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first when Mariah Bohl worked a one-out walk, swiped second base and scored on Casey Bigham's single to centerfield. The Paladins maintained the lead until the bottom of the fifth when Ellington Day belted a solo homer run to left field to even the contest.
 
Smith (1-7) suffered the loss for Furman, allowing two runs on just one hits and two walks in two and two-thirds innings of work.
 
Bohl went 2-for-2 with a pair of singles, a base on balls and a stolen base to lead the Furman offense. Barfield finished 2-for-3 with a double for the Eagles.
 
Furman returns to action on Tuesday with a 5 p.m. doubleheader at the College of Charleston.