Georgia State softball’s final home series of the season end in victory over the University of Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks. The Panthers won a Friday doubleheader at the Heck Softball Complex, claiming the series two games to one. The wins increase Georgia State’s record to 32-19 and 11-10 in the Sun Belt.
The Panthers will face Florida State on today in their final home game this year.
Game One: 11-2 win (run-rule)
Callie Alford doubled, leading off the bottom of the second, then Lauren Coleman singled as Alford advanced to third. She later stole second, placing two runners in scoring position. Mandy Blackwell singled to centerfield as Alford found home for a Georgia State 1-0 lead. Morgan Brown hit a sacrifice fly as Coleman scored, making it a 2-0 game.
In the bottom of the third, Ashley Christy led off with a single, then stole second base. Megan Litumbe was hit by a pitch and Alford walked, loading the bases. Coleman followed by launching a grand slam home run, plating four runs home as the Panthers’ lead became 6-0.
Sophomore ULM outfielder Sidney Coy led off the top of the fourth with a single before junior infielder Faith Bohack hit a two-run homer as the Warhawks closed within 6-2.
In the bottom of the fifth, Coleman tripled, leading off the inning before Caldwell drew a walk and Blackwell doubled as Coleman scored for a 7-2 Georgia State lead. Caldwell also attempted to score but was thrown out at home.
After Cassidy Faulk pinch ran for Blackwell, she advanced to third on a wild pitch before Brown was hit by a pitch and later stole second. Taylor Anderson singled as Faulk found home, making the score 8-2. Christy’s sacrifice fly translated into Brown reaching home, increasing the Panthers’ lead to 9-2.
Ivie Drake completed the run-rule victory as she lofted her 18th home run this year. The two-run homer gave Georgia State the 11-2 win and Drake the single-season record for homers in Panthers history.
Game Two: 10-8 win
In the top of the first, sophomore Warhawks outfielder Rochelle Roberts doubled to lead off, then Coy singled and advanced to second as Roberts moved to third. Redshirt sophomore infielder Miyuki Navarrete tripled home Roberts and Coy as ULM took a 2-0 lead.
After Anderson drew a walk, leading off the Panthers’ half of the first, Drake upped her homer total to 19 with a two-run shot that tied the score at two apiece.
Junior UL-Monroe infielder Amye Barre was hit by a pitch, leading off the top of the second before freshman infielder Cheyanne Lyon reclaimed the lead for the Warhawks with a two-run home run, making it a 4-2 game.
In the bottom of the third, Christy led off with a single and Drake followed that up with a double as Christy found third. Alford singled, plating Christy, drawing Georgia State within 4-3. Coleman gave the Panthers the lead again as her three-run home run made it a 6-4 game.
With two outs in the top of the fourth, Lyon and senior outfielder Mackenzie Miller drew back-to-back walks. Lyon also advanced to second on a wild pitch. Roberts, Coy, and senior infielder Alexis Cacioppo were all hit by pitches, the first two forced home Lyon and Miller, tying the game at six apiece.
Blackwell began the bottom of the fifth with her fifth homer of the season as Georgia State reclaimed a 7-6 lead. Brown and Anderson followed with back-to-back singles before Christy’s three-run home run extended the Panthers’ lead to 10-6.
With two outs in the top of the sixth, Coy walked, then Cacioppo hit a two-run home run, cutting ULM’s deficit to 10-8. The Warhawks retired in order in the top of the seventh as the Panthers won by a final of 10-8.
Game Three
With one out in the bottom of the first, Christy singled and Drake drew a walk. Alford singled, driving home Christy as Georgia State assumed an early 1-0 lead. Coleman followed with a double that plated Drake and Alford, extending the Panthers’ lead to 3-0.
In the top of the second, Navarrette singled before moving to second on an illegal pitch. Barre singled, then Bohack cleared the bases with a three-run homer, tying the game at three apiece.
With two out in the top of the third, Cacioppo’s second home run of the series gave UL-Monroe the lead at 4-3.
In the top of the sixth, sophomore infielder Vanessa Garcia led off with a single before Navarrete was hit by a pitch and Barre walked. Junior Warhawks outfielder Kaitlyn Dupuis then pinch ran for Barre. Bohack made it a 7-3 game as her three-run double plated Garcia, Navarrete and Dupuis. With Bohack at third, Miller brought Bohack home, extending the lead to 8-3.
Navarrete singled with two outs in the top of the seventh and Barre’s RBI double scored Navarrete, expanding ULM’s lead to 9-3.
Alford singled with one out in the bottom of the seventh, then Coleman’s second home run of the series plated herself and Alford, closing the gap to 9-5. Georgia State’s rally would fall short as the Warhawks won Sunday’s game by the final of 9-5.
