STATESBORO, Ga. - A three-run fifth inning by Georgia Southern, aided by three Elon errors, proved to be the difference, as the Eagles overcame five miscues of their own to take a 5-4 softball victory Sunday afternoon at Eagle Field.

The Eagles improve to 24-28 and 6-8 in the Southern Conference, and win the weekend series 2-1. Elon drops to 20-24, 8-7.

Four of GSU’s errors came in the final two innings, yet starter Logan Free gave up just one run to barely hang on to the lead. The Phoenix left five runners on base in the last two frames.

With the score even at 2-2 after four innings, Elon retook the lead in the top of the fifth with back-to-back two-out hits from Laurin Smith and Brandi Jones. Smith singled to get on base before Jone's knocked an RBI-double to take a 3-2 lead.

In the wild GSU half of the fifth, Sam Steiner and Carrie Mixon each had RBI singles to put the Eagles ahead 5-3.

Elon had the bases full in the sixth without the benefit of a hit thanks to two errors and a walk, but Free escaped with a strikeout.

In Elon’s half of the seventh, Smith led off with a walk, but was standing on second with two outs after a strikeout and a groundout. Consecutive errors allowed Smith to score and cut the lead in half with the tying run on second. But the rally was squashed as Free ended the game with a groundout.

Free (11-9) picked up the win after tossing a complete game, giving up four runs (one earned) on six hits while striking out five batters.

Samantha Schroeder (6-8) took the loss in relief. In two innings of work she allowed three earned runs and two hits while striking out two. Starter Carol Lilley tossed four innings and gave up two runs on four hits while fanning one batter.

Jones led Elon from the plate, going three-for-four with one run and one RBI. Tracey Dahlen recorded two hits and one RBI for the Phoenix.

Elon returns to action on Thursday in a 3 p.m. doubleheader at North Carolina A&T.

-ELON-