The winning streak of Georgia State softball continued on Day One of the Under Armour Invitational with victories over Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) and Eastern Michigan. The Panthers’ record stands at 9-2 on the season.
16-2 win over FGCU
In the top of the first, Morgan Brown singled to second base. Callie Alford hit an RBI double, plating Brown and giving the Panthers a 1-0 lead.
Freshman first baseman Brittany McGuire and freshman third baseman Chandler Middlebrook each doubled in the bottom of the second. The one by Middlebrook drove in McGuire, tying the game at one. Sophomore second baseman Jeanie Verderese singled and Middlebrook moved to third. Freshman outfielder Natalie Lopez later singled, scoring Middlebrook, and giving the Eagles a 2-1 lead.
In the top of the third, Lauren Coleman walked, then Taylor Anderson singled, sending Coleman to second. Ivie Drake’s two-run single plated Anderson and Coleman as Georgia State retook the lead at 3-2. Callie Alford singled, then Megan Litumbe walked, loading the bases.
Kensey Caldwell’s two-run single scored Drake and Alford, increasing the Panthers’ lead to 5-2. Christy hit a two-RBI triple, driving in Litumbe and Caldwell, expanding the Georgia State lead to 7-2. Mallory Koepke drove in Christy with a single as the Panthers’ advantage became 8-2.
Drake began the top of the fourth by reaching base on a throwing error. Alford singled as the FGCU left fielder committed an error, moving Alford to second and Drake to the plate as Georgia State’s lead became 9-2. Megan Litumbe singled, then two batters later, Christy reached base on a fielder’s choice. The Eagles’ shortstop committed an error as Litumbe advanced to second then to third. FGCU committed as Lauren Coleman reached base and Christy and Litumbe scored, expanding the Panthers’ lead to 12-2.
Brown led off the top of the fifth with a walk. Drake then singled, advancing Brown to second. Bethany Skalski came in to pinch run for Drake. Alford walked to load the bases. Kristin Hawkins, pinch hitting for Litumbe, hit a two-run double, driving in Skalski and Brown as Georgia State took a 14-2 lead. Koepke later singled, plating Alford and Hawkins as the Panthers’ lead grew to 16-2.
The Panthers went on to win by a final of 16-2 in nine innings. Georgia State pitcher Taylor Thorpe also earned a complete game to increase her record to 4-0.
6-1 win vs. Eastern Michigan
The Panthers began the bottom of the first with Anderson and Brown hitting singles. Coleman and Alford would later walk with the latter of the two forcing Anderson home as Georgia State scored the game’s first run. Drake hit a three-run double, scoring Brown, Coleman and Alford, increasing the Panthers’ lead to 4-0. Two batters later, Caldwell walked then Christy reached base on an Eastern Michigan error as Drake scored, growing the Georgia State lead to 5-0.
Brown led off the bottom of the second by being hit by a pitch and later stealing second base. Alford doubled, plating home Brown with the Panthers lead becoming 6-0.
Eastern Michigan stayed scoreless until the bottom of the seventh. Junior third baseman Abby Davidson led off by reaching on a fielding error. Freshman second baseman Haley Hostetler also reached base via fielder’s choice as Davidson was thrown out at second. She later advanced to second. Sophomore outfielder Michelle Kriegshauser hit an RBI single as Hostetler reached home, making the score 6-1. A pair of batters later, Georgia State defeated Eastern Michigan by a final of 6-1.
Katie Worley was credited with her first victory for the Panthers. She pitched six and two-thirds of an inning, giving up five hits, four walks and struck out five.
Georgia State continues the Under Armour Invitational with Saturday matchups vs. East Carolina and Villanova.
