CONWAY, S.C. - The Coastal Carolina softball team (26-9) shut out the Georgia Southern Eagles 8-0 after freshman Delaney Keith smashed a walk-off double to secure the win in the top of the fifth inning at St. John Stadium on Friday night.
 
The Chants got off to an early lead in the top of the first inning after a Georgia Southern fielding miscue and a wild pitch allowed Riley Zana to reach home plate to put CCU up 1-0.
 
CCU's offense was ignited in the bottom of the second inning after back-to-back singles from Keirstin Roose and Livi Payne put runners on first and third base. Indya Smith then stepped up to the plate and hit a rocket over the right-field wall to extend Coastal's lead to 4-0. The next hitter Diamond Williams reached first base after being hit by a pitch, then it was Zana's time to shine as she hammered her sixth home run of the season over the right-center field wall to make the score 7-0.
 
There were a pair of scoreless innings in the third and fourth innings in which Raelee Brabham pitched two consecutive 1-2-3 frames and Georgia Southern's Bailey Holland had a three-up, three-down inning of her own and allowed just one hit to keep the score at 7-0.
 
The Chants were eager for a quick finish in the bottom of the fifth inning when Smith reached first base on a bunt. Williams then kept the ball rolling when she drilled a single to third base. CCU was then able to put the game to bed after Keith crushed a walk-off RBI double to center field to give CCU the 8-0 win.
 
Brabham improved to 10-4 with the win, recording five strikeouts and refusing to give up a single run in 5.0 innings of work in the circle.
 
The Chanticleers will be back in action tomorrow at St. John Stadium for game two versus Georgia Southern. First pitch has been moved up to 11:30 a.m. ET due to forecasted inclement weather later in the day.
 
For complete coverage of CCU softball, follow the Chanticleers on social media at @CoastalSoftball (Twitter), @GoCCUSports (Instagram), and facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook) or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at goccusports.com.