The Panthers extended their winning streak to 10 consecutive games with a road sweep at Mercer. Georgia State shutout Mercer in Game One, 3-0, and defeated the Bears in Game Two by a final of 8-5
Game One: 3-0 win
In the top of the second, Lauren Coleman singled, then Megan Litumbe doubled, plating Coleman, and giving Georgia State an early 1-0 lead.
The Panthers picked up one more in the top of the sixth as Litumbe hit a solo home run, extending the lead to 2-0.
The top of the seventh featured Ashley Christy leading off the frame with a double before advancing to third. Morgan Brown contributed a successful suicide squeeze play, driving in Christy and increasing Georgia State’s lead to 3-0.
Mercer was retired in order in the bottom of the seventh, sealing a Panthers 3-0 win.
Game Two: 8-5 win
Senior outfielder Riley Carter walked, then advanced to second as senior Bears third baseman Kaylynn Sloat was hit by a pitch.
Junior Mercer catcher Natalie Shiver and junior infielder Kaitlyn Haney drew watch, the latter of which plated Carter and giving Mercer a 1-0 lead. Sophomore first baseman Caroline Taylor followed that up with an RBI single, driving in Sloat and increasing the Mercer lead to 2-0.
The Panthers answered with two in the top of the second. Ivie Drake led off the frame with a single, then Litumbe hit a two-run homer tying the score at two.
In the bottom of the third, Carter singled, then advanced to second. Mercer retook the lead at 3-2 as Haney singled to score Carter.
After the first two Georgia State batters were retired in the top of the fifth, Anderson singled, then Coleman doubled as Anderson found home, tying the score at three apiece.
The Bears reassumed the lead in the bottom half of the fifth. Sophomore outfieler Taylor Miller led off with a single, then stole second base. Junior catcher Natalie Shiver later hit an RBI single, plating Miller as Mercer retook the lead at 4-3.
Georgia State tied the game at four in the top of the sixth as Callie Alford hit her seventh home run.
Taylor walked to lead off the bottom of the sixth before freshman infielder Shayla Kicklighter pinch ran for her. Senior catcher Molly Garmany walked and Miller reached base on an error as Kicklighter scored, producing a 5-4 lead for the Bears.
In the top of the seventh, Taylor Bradley and Morgan Brown began the inning with singles. With runners at second and third, Christy doubled, driving in both Bradley and Brown as the Panthers took a 6-5 lead. Coleman later singled, plating Christy and increasing Georgia State’s lead to 7-5. Alford doubled, scoring Coleman as the Georgia State lead became 8-5.
Mercer was retired in order in the bottom of the seventh as the Panthers improved their record to 13-2 and their win streak to 10 straight. Georgia State begins Sun Belt play this weekend as they host Troy at the Heck Softball Complex for a three-game series.
