The forecast was sunny at the Heck Softball Complex on Wednesday as Georgia State softball were swept in a home doubleheader by the Furman Paladins.
The Panthers lost the first matchup 3-1 and the second game 6-2. Georgia State’s record is now 23-12 on the season as they have lost five straight games.
Game One: 3-1 loss
Senior second baseman Taylor Jenkins hit a homer in the top of the second as the Paladins took a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth, sophomore outfielder Courtney Jacobs led the frame off with a double. Freshman pitcher Lindsey Bert helped her own cause with a single, placing Jacobs at third. Freshman second baseman Katharine Olson pinch ran for Bert then Jenkins reached base on a fielding error as Olson advanced to second and Jacobs advanced to home, increasing Furman’s lead to 2-0.
That lead became 3-0 as senior third baseman Natalie Clemmons hit a homer in the top of the seventh.
Georgia State plated one in the bottom of the seventh. Morgan Brown and Taylor Anderson hit back-to-back singles, then Ashley Christy grounded out as Brown moved to third and Anderson found second.
Ivie Drake drew an intentional walk before Brenna Skalski pinch ran for her. Callie Alford was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, making the game 3-1. Megan Litumbe flied out, ending Game One with a Furman win.
Bert earned the win and now was a 12-8 record. She pitched a complete game seven innings and gave up seven hits, one run, and struck out nine.
Katie Worley was credited with the loss and now has a record of 7-5. She also pitched a complete game seven innings, but gave up four hits, three runs and struck out six.
Game Two: 6-2
A five-run fourth for the Paladins made all the difference in the second game. Sophomore Furman first baseman Elise Smith led off with a single befor freshman infielder Brittany Houston pinch ran for her.
After she advanced to second, Clemmons hit a two-run homer, giving the Paladins a 2-0 lead. Junior outfielder Taylor Collins drew a walk and senior outfielder Ambree Muller was hit by a pitch before Jenkins hit her second homer of the day, scoring herself as well as Collins and Muller, making Furman’s lead grow to 5-0.
Litumbe led off the bottom of the fourth with a single, then Bradley did the same as Litumbe advanced to third. Morgan Brown’s single drove in Litumbe as the Panthers made it a 5-1 game.
Furman got the run back in the top of the sixth as Collins led off with a home run, increasing the Paladins’ lead to 6-1.
Brown tripled, leading off the seventh and scored on a Christy groundout, cutting Georgia State’s deficit to 6-2. The next two Panthers batters were retired in order, sealing the doubleheader sweep for Furman.
Junior pitcher Alex Sappington won the game for the Paladins and now has a 3-8 record. She pitched a complete game despite giving up eight hits and two runs while only striking out two.
Taylor Thorpe was credited with the loss and now has an 11-2 record. She pitched three and a third of an inning, gave up three hits, three runs, and struck out two.
The task does not get any easier for Georgia State this weekend as they face Louisiana-Lafayette on the road for a three-game series starting Friday. The Ragin’ Cajuns are 27-5 this season and 12-3 in Sun Belt play.
