Softball drops home finale to Florida State

On Monday, Georgia State softball dropped its final home matchup of the 2015 season when the Panthers lost to the Florida State Seminoles by a final of 6-1. The defeat drops the Panthers’ record 32-20 in the season.

Senior pitcher Lacey Waldrop earned the win for Florida State as she pitched a complete game, going all seven innings. She gave up three hits, three runs and struck out once. Her record now stands at 26-6 in the year.

Taylor Thorpe credited the loss for Georgia State as her record is now 16-5 in the season. In four and one-third of an inning of work, she allowed seven hits, five runs and struck out one.

The Panthers will play their final series of the season this weekend on May 1-2 at Georgia Southern before the Sun Belt tournament in San Marcos, Texas from May 6-9.

Georgia State began the game promisingly in the bottom of the first. Taylor Anderson led the game with a walk before moving to second after Ashley Christy grounded out. Lauren Coleman drove Anderson in with an RBI single and advanced to second on a throw as the Panthers took a 1-0 lead.

Redshirt senior Florida State shortstop Maddie O’Brien began the top of the fourth with a walk before freshman infielder Jessica Warren hit a two-run homer as the Seminoles assumed a 2-1 lead.

Senior utility player Bailey Schinella singled, leading off the top of the fifth before sophomore outfielder Lauren Harris pinch ran for her. Harris advanced to second, then sophomore Florida State utility player Victoria Daddis singled as Harris moved to third.

Junior Seminoles catcher Macey Cheatham then pinch ran for Daddis. Freshman outfielder Morgan Klaevemann hit a bunt single, loading the bases. O’Brien hit a two-RBI single, plating Schinella and Daddis as the Florida State lead became 4-1. The lead became 5-1 after Warren’s sacrifice groundout as Klaevemann reached home.

In the top of the second, Cheatham led off the frame with a double before advancing to third on a passed ball, advancing home on a wild pitch, extending the Seminoles’ lead to 6-1.

Megan Litumbe began the Panthers’ half of the seventh with a walk before Brenna Skalski pinch ran for her. She later advanced to second, then to third on a Kensey Caldwell single. Skalski scored on a passed ball and Caldwell moved to second as the score became 6-2. After Caldwell moved to third on a wild pitch, Anderson singled her home as Georgia State drew to within 6-3.

With two outs, Christy grounded out, ending the game and the home schedule for the Panthers.