Georgia State softball concluded the University of Central Florida (UCF) Invitational in Clearwater, Florida with victories on Sunday over the East Carolina Pirates and Villanova Wildcats. The victories extend the Panthers’ winning streak to eight and improve the team’s overall record to 11-2.
Sunday: 4-3 win vs. East Carolina
The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth. Ivie Drake led off the frame with a single, then Callie Alford hit a two-run homer as Georgia State took a 2-0 lead. Lauren Coleman drew a walk, then Megan Litumbe hit a two-run homer of her own as the Panthers lead grew to 4-0.
Georgia State maintained the 4-0 lead until the top of the seventh. Sophomore outfielder Kacie Oshiro led off the frame with a single. Freshman Pirates second baseman Kerry Butler hit a double as Oshiro advanced to third. Redshirt senior East Carolina catcher Abby Wynne hit a single, plating Oshiro for the Pirates’ 4-1.
In the same inning, junior shortstop Casey Alcorn drew a walk and sophomore first baseman Ali Ramirez reached base on a fielder’s choice as Butler scored, drawing the Pirates closer at 4-2.
Sophomore second baseman Megan Quick walked, and then freshman outfielder Mary-Sloan Bradford pinch ran for Ramirez. A Georgia State wild pitch plated Alcorn, bringing East Carolina within one at 4-3. Junior outfielder Meredith Mitchell walked to load the bases, but sophomore outfielder Ciara Ervin flied out for the final out of the game.
Georgia State defeated East Carolina 4-3 for the Panthers’ seventh straight win, improving the Panthers’ record to 10-2.
Sunday: 5-2 win vs. Villanova
Taylor Anderson led off the bottom of the first with a single before stealing second base. Ivie Drake later singled, plating Anderson for the Panthers’ first run. Alford later walked and Drake moved to second. Megan Litumbe then hit a single, scoring in Drake and increasing Georgia State’s lead to 2-0.
After Coleman grounded out, moving Alford to third and Litumbe to second, Kensey Caldwell doubled, driving in Alford and Litumbe and upping the Panthers’ early lead to 4-0.
In the top of the third, senior pitcher Ali Angelbello walked and advanced to second as junior outfielder Aleshia Ayers grounded out. Sophomore Wildcats infielder Lauren Herschberg hit an RBI single, plating Angelbello as Villanova drew within 4-1.
The top of the sixth saw freshman Villanova infielder Brittany Husk lead off with a single. Another freshman infielder, Dana Morris reach base on a fielder’s choice as Husk advanced to second. Sophomore infielder Chase Snell followed that up with an RBI double as Husk found home, drawing the Wildcats within two at 4-2.
Georgia State got the run back in their half of the sixth. Coleman led off the frame with a double, advancing to third on a wild pitch. Caldwell hit a sacrifice fly, allowing Coleman to reach home increasing the Panthers lead back to three again at 5-2.
Taylor Thorpe retired the Wildcats in order in the top of the seventh as Georgia State clinched its eighth straight win and an 11-2 record.
The Panthers return to the diamond on Wednesday in Macon, Georgia for a road doubleheader vs. Mercer. Game one is scheduled for 4 p.m.
