Georgia State softball concluded the Panther Invitational at the Heck Softball Complex with victories over Mount St. Mary’s and Presbyterian on Saturday. The wins are the Panthers’ third and fourth straight and improve the team’s record to 7-2.
Saturday: 10-4 win over Mount St. Mary’s
Georgia State started scoring with three in the first. After walks to Taylor Anderson and Morgan Brown, Callie Alford’s three-run homer gave the Panthers an early 3-0 lead.
This lead would remain until the bottom of the fourth, Senior Mountaineers utility player Rachel Teti homered, giving Mount St. Mary’s its first run. After a single and steal of second by junior utility player Rachel Gavigan, freshman utility player Morgan Alisauckas hit a two-run home run tying the score at three.
In the top of the fifth, Brown led off with a single, then advanced to second on a groundout by Ivie Drake. Alford singled, plating Brown and reclaiming the lead for Georgia State at 4-3. A double from Megan Litumbe drove in Brown, increasing the Panthers’ lead to 5-3.
The top of the sixth would see Ashley Christy lead off the frame with a double. Taylor Anderson later walked then stole second.
A throwing error by the Mount St. Mary’s catcher moved Anderson to third and allowed Christy to score. Brown then placed in an RBI single, extending the Panthers’ lead to 7-3. Drake followed up with a two-run homer, expanding Georgia State’s lead to 9-3.
The Mountaineers began the sixth with a walk by sophomore utility player Rachel Heinze. She later advanced to second on a wild pitch, then moved to third on a groundout by Gavigan.
Freshman pitcher Marian Ruf later grounded out, allowing Heinze to reach home and giving Mount St. Mary’s its fourth run.
A home run by Anderson increased the Georgia State lead to 10-4, the team’s margin of victory for the game as the Panthers’ improved their record to 6-2.
Saturday: 9-2 win over Presbyterian
Senior Blue Hose utility player Jill McLean led off with a single before a two-run home run by senior outfielder Shelby Petik, claiming a 2-0 lead for Presbyterian.
In the bottom of the fourth, Drake doubled before being pinch ran for by Cassidy Faulk. Alford’s two-run homer tied the game at two apiece. Litumbe singled, then Caldwell doubled, moving Litumbe to third.
A sacrifice bunt by Christy plated Litumbe for a 3-2 Georgia State lead. Mallory Koepke hit a single, driving in Caldwell as the score became 4-2. Anderson, Brown and Drake then drew walks, the latter of which drove home Koepke. Anderson would score on a wild pitch, increasing the Panthers’ lead to 6-2.
The bottom of the fifth would see Taylor Bradley walk before moving to second on a wild pitch. A Koepke single advanced Bradley to single, then a double from Anderson advanced both Bradley and Koepke to home, extend the Panthers’ lead to 8-2.
Drake would hit a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth, making it a 9-2 game. Georgia State would win its seventh victory in the season.
The Panthers will return to the diamond Wednesday at 5 p.m. at home vs. Kennesaw State.
