TWO HOMERS FOR LITUMBE, TWO WINS FOR THE PANTHERS

Georgia State got their seventh run-rule victory of the season in the first game of the day Saturday. The Panthers scored in every inning in Game 1, including five runs in both the second and fourth innings. Remington Hasty got the scoring going with a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the first. On the season, Georgia State is now 11-1 when scoring in the first inning and 15-2 when scoring first.

After Appalachian State took a 2-1 lead in the second, Ivie Drake quickly put the Panthers back in front with a two-RBI single that scored Morgan Brown and Baylee Sexton. Kensey Caldwell then brought home another run with a sac fly before Megan Litumbe capped off the inning with a two-run home run, her fourth of the season.

Brown earned an RBI in the third to give GSU a 7-2 lead, but the Panthers would blow the game open with five more runs in the fourth inning. Litumbe got the frame going with her second long ball of the game, a solo shot to dead center field. Brown picked up a second RBI before Kirsten McMonigle singled with the bases loaded to bring home three runs thanks in part to an App State error, making it 12-2.

Peyton Worsham got the win in Game 1 with three innings of work. Worsham allowed just one hit and didn’t give up any runs.

Game 2: Georgia State 5, App State 3

Game 2 was a much closer affair, but the Panthers ultimately got the same results thanks to impressive performances in the circle by Kinsley Jennings and Emily Soles. Jennings went six innings to improve to 7-4 on the season. She allowed just one earned run on seven hits and she struck out four. Soles came on in the final frame and earned her first career save, setting down the Mountaineers in order.

Drake helped provide the run support in Game 2 as she narrowly missed a grand slam. With the bases loaded in the second inning, Drake hit a line drive off the top of the wall in right field, clearing the bases as Drake rolled into second with a three-RBI double.

In the third inning, Arden Jobe came home on a wild pitch to help provide some insurance. Appalachian State threatened with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth, but Jennings settled in and escaped the jam to keep GSU in front.

Sunday’s series finale is schedule for a noon start. With rain expected overnight, updates on the start time will be posted on the website and on social media. Sunday’s game can be seen live on GeorgiaStateSports.com and on the GSU Athletics mobile app with a subscription.

Follow along with Georgia State on Twitter (@GSU_Softball) for the latest news.

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Cajuns Open With Win on Weather-Shortened Day in Mobile

MOBILE, Ala. – Kara Gremillion and Aleah Craighton combined for five RBI pacing 17th-ranked Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Softball to an 8-3 win over South Alabama in the opening game of a Sun Belt Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Jaguar Field.

The second game of the doubleheader was suspended by weather in the bottom of the fourth inning with Louisiana leading 3-0. Play will resume at Noon on Sunday with the series finale to follow 30 minutes after.

All of Sunday's action can be heard in the Lafayette area on SportsRadio ESPN 1420-AM and worldwide on the RadioPup app. Links for a free live video stream and live statistics can be accessed at RaginCajuns.com on the softball schedule page.

Louisiana (21-5, 4-0 Sun Belt) jumped in front of South Alabama (19-10, 2-5 Sun Belt) with four runs off five hits in the second inning.

Gremillion was 2-for-4 at the plate and accounted for three RBI. She picked up her sixth multiple-hit game of March, and ninth of the season, while the RBI total marked her season-high figure.

Craighton finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and posted her sixth home run of the year. The junior outfielder has now reached base in all 26 games.

Kassidy Zeringue posted a game-high three hits for Louisiana, scored two runs and collected an RBI. Her 3-for-4 showing marked her second three-hit game of the season (March 5 vs. Alcorn).

Freshman pitcher Alyssa Denham scattered seven hits and struck out five as she improved to 9-1 overall and 3-0 in Sun Belt play. The Pearland (Texas) High product forced the Jaguars to strand 11 baserunners.

Game 1 – Louisiana 8, South Alabama 3
An RBI triple by Lexie Comeaux and RBI single from Beth Ashley came in back-to-back at bats in the second inning and gave the Cajuns a 2-0 lead off Jaguars starter Devin Brown. A two-out double by Gremillion, the third extra base hit of the inning, pushed across two more runs.

Craighton led off the third inning with a single up the middle and moved to second on a wild pitch. Brown avoided the game getting out of hand early by regrouping after a meeting with head coach Becky Clark. She retired the next three Cajuns hitters and held the visitors off the scoreboard until the fifth inning.

USA trimmed a run off the Louisiana lead in the third inning when Haleigh Lane managed to sneak an RBI single through the right side.

A solo home run from Craighton in the fifth inning returned the lead to four runs at 5-1. The Jaguars were in a position to draw closer in their half of the inning after a pair of errors and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with one out. However, Denham scooped a slow roller and flipped to Comeaux at home for the second out and then induced a soft liner off the bat of Savanna Mayo for the final out.

Louisiana put the game out of reach in the sixth inning, extending the lead to 7-1 as runs scored on a two-out single from Gremillion and bases-loaded hit by pitch of Craighton. USA did get a pinch-hit, two-run home run from Morgan Lutticken in the bottom of the sixth, but would get no closer.

Game 2 – Louisiana 3, South Alabama 0 (suspended – Bot 4)
Alex Stewart got off to a strong start in the circle by retiring the first nine batters she faced. She struck out six of the 11 batters she faced before play was suspended.

DJ Sanders was responsible for the Ragin' Cajuns first two runs of the game. She opened the scoring with a solo home run in the second inning, then singled through the left side with the bases loaded in the third inning for a 2-0 lead.

Louisiana extended the lead to 3-0 before USA's Destin Vicknair could retire the side in the third inning as Gremillion scored on a fielder's choice grounder by Daniella Chavez.

Kaleigh Todd singled to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning and with the aid of wild pitches was at third base with one out when the rain delay began at 2:32 p.m.

DIAMOND NOTES
- With the win in Game 1, Louisiana moved within one win of extending its school and Sun Belt record streak of consecutive conference series won to 31 straight.
- The Ragin' Cajuns increased their all-time series lead over South Alabama to 25-11 and now holds a 9-6 edge in meetings at Jaguar Field.
- The Ragin' Cajuns pitching staff has now held the opposition to five runs or less in all 26 games.
- Aleah Craighton has now hit safely in 10 of the last 11 games and is hitting .424 (14-for-33) during the timeframe. She has homered in four of the past eight games.
- Kara Gremillion is hitting .441 (15-for-34) and has posted five extra base hits (double, four home runs) and 12 RBI in the month of March.
- Louisiana played its first road game of the 2017 season after beginning with 25 consecutive games at Lamson Park.

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Softball Hands Texas State First SBC Loss; Split Saturday Doubleheader

MONROE, La. - The ULM softball team handed Texas State its first Sun Belt Conference loss, and just fifth loss overall, on Saturday as the Warhawks and Bobcats split a doubleheader at Geo-Surfaces Field. Texas State took game one by a 5-0 score before the Warhawks picked up a 3-2 win in the second game.
TURNING POINT
-After being shutout by the Bobcats in game one on Saturday the Warhawks used early offense in game two and held on late after Texas State loaded the bases in the seventh inning.
NOTABLES
-In game one, the Warhawks struggled to get the offense going as Texas State held the Warhawks to just two hits, both coming from Sydney McKay.
-Melanie Coyne was saddled with the loss after pitching five innings and allowed four hits and five runs. Jessie Watts closed out the final two innings in the contest allowing only one hit while facing the minimum number of batters.
-In game two, McKay and Jayden Mount each had a run scoring double to highlight the Warhawks offense while Cheyanne Lyon and Megan Shaw each added a hit of their own for ULM.
-The Warhawks used some early offense in game two as a Mount RBI double in the first and McKay's two-run double in the second gave the Warhawks three early runs that would prove to be enough after Texas State used a RBI double and triple in the top of the third to push across its only runs.
-Paige Porter started in the circle for the Warhawks and after five innings of work grabbed her third win of the season. Murray allowed only three hits and two runs while striking out four batters on the way to the victory..
-Watts closed things out in game two for her third save of the season, working her way out of the bases loaded situation with only one out in the top of the seventh inning with a foul out and a groundout to close the game.

UP NEXT
The Warhawks will face Texas State on Sunday at noon for the final game of the weekend series.

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Ortiz Ties Career Home Run Record; Bobcats Split Twin Bill At ULM

MONROE, La. – Ariel Ortiz hit her 29th career home run to tie the Texas State career record in leading the Bobcats to a doubleheader split at ULM on Saturday afternoon.

The Bobcats took game one 5-0, then fell to ULM 3-2 in game two.

Texas State is now 23-5 on the season and 6-1 in Sun Belt play, while ULM ran its record to 19-11 overall and 4-4 against league foes.

Game One Recap

Ariel Ortiz accounted for three Bobcat runs, including her record-tying 29th homer, and the Bobcat defense backed up starter Randi Rupp as Texas State took game one 5-0.

Ortiz finished the day 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored on a homer and two doubles. Jaelyn Young was 1-for-3 with a two-run blast and Haleigh Davis went 1-for-3 with a single as the trio accounted for the Bobcats' five hits.

Rupp earned the complete game, shutout, and win with seven strong innings in the circle. The win was Rupp's 14th of the season, the complete game her ninth and shutout her fifth. She finished with seven strikeouts, while utilizing the Bobcat defense for 10 fly outs and three ground outs.

The win moved the Bobcats' win streak to 10 and overall record to 23-4 (6-0 Sun Belt). ULM fell to 18-11 and 3-4 in league play.

Texas State took a quick 2-0 lead in the first, scoring both runs with two outs. Ortiz opened the scoring with her program-record tying home run. The junior turned on ULM's Melanie Coyne's 2-2 offering, sending it over the fence at the left-field foul pole for her team-leading 11th homer of the season. Young followed with a walk, reached second on fielder's choice, took third on a ULM error and scored as Webb induced a run-down between first and second.

After three scoreless innings Texas State broke the game open with three runs in the fifth for a 5-0 lead. Bailee Carter walked and later came around to score on Ortiz's RBI double to center field. Young immediately followed with a two-run bomb to straightaway center for her sixth round-tripper of the season.

With the Bobcats sporting a 5-0 lead, Rupp sat down nine of the final 10 Warhawk batters she faced, surrendering only a walk in the seventh inning.

ULM's Coyne (12-5) suffered the loss in the circle, surrendering all five Bobcat runs (four earned) in her full five innings. Jessie Watts came on in relief and finished the final 2.0 innings for the Warhawks.

Game Two Recap

ULM scored one in the first inning, two in the second inning and left the bases full of Bobcats in the top of the seventh to win game two 3-2.
The setback snapped the Bobcats' 10-game win streak and moved the Bobcats to 23-5 overall (6-1 Sun Belt). ULM improved to 19-11 (4-4 Sun Belt).

ULM's Paige Porter and Jessie Watts combined to limit the TXST lineup to five hits, while striking out six and issuing only two free passes. Porter earned the win, pitching 5.0 inning with four strikeouts. Watts picked up the two-inning save.

Quincy Charleston (4-1) was charged with the loss after starting and going one complete for the Bobcats, surrendering an unearned run, before being relieved by Jodi Paige Williams with a runner on first and no outs in the second. Williams threw the final 5.0 innings, notching a career-high tying eight strikeouts.

ULM took a 1-0 lead in the home half of the first. Sydney McKay drew a leadoff walk, reached second on a pass ball and was doubled home by Jayden Mount for the Warhawks' first lead of the series.

ULM added two more runs for a 3-0 lead in the second. The Warhawk hitters took advantage of two walks and a two-out, two-run RBI double to left-center by McKay to plate the runs.

The Bobcats got two runs back in the third as Bailee Carter ripped a RBI triple to right that scored Kennedy Cline. Two batters later Christiana McDowell drove home Carter with a double over the outstretched arm of the ULM left fielder.

Both then pitching staffs settled and did not allow a runner past second until the Bobcats loaded the bases with one out in the seventh. Taylor Webb and Kennedy Cline singles sandwiched a Corrina Liscano walk to put a Bobcat on each base. However, TXST would be unable to find a game-tying hit as ULM's Jessie Watts escaped the jam and end the game with a foul pop up to the catcher and a routine ground ball to second.

UP NEXT
Texas State and ULM conclude the three-game series with a single game Sunday (March 26) at noon.

BOBCATS GO4THEGOAL BY LACING UP FOR PEDIATRIC CANCER AWARENESS ON APRIL 5
Texas State softball and baseball will support the Go4theGoal organization by participating in Lace Up 4 Pediatric Cancer games on April 5. Both games will be played in San Marcos with softball hosting Texas (6 p.m.) and baseball UTRGV (6 p.m.). Both program will wear gold shoe laces in support of the initiative. Fans are encouraged to wear gold to the games and will have a chance to donate to Go4theGoal's mission of improving the lives of children battling cancer by providing financial support, developing and implementing unique hospital programs, funding innovative research and granting personal wishes. For more information, visit GO4THEGOAL.ORG.

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SB: Doubleheader Ends In Thrilling Win For UTA

ARLINGTON, Texas -- An exciting walk-off squeeze bunt in the 10th inning for UTA softball evened a SBC series against Georgia Southern Saturday at Allan Saxe Field.

Down 8-6 in the bottom of the ninth, Cy’Andria Newton and Krista Rude punched RBI singles to prevent a series win for the Eagles after their run-rule victory in Game 1. Both teams were deadlocked at eight until the 10th frame, when Mallory Foster tripled to center and Aileen Garcia was once again the hero in extras, laying down a squeeze bunt to plate the winning run.

UTA (17-14, 3-5 SBC) clipped Georgia Southern (14-15, 4-4) 9-8 in the nightcap to erase an 11-3 run-rule in the first game. The all-time series remains a split at four wins each for the programs. Each team has won its previous home series with Arlington coming up victorious in 2015. The finale to decide the series is set for noon Sunday at Allan Saxe Field.

The Eagles held the Sun Belt’s second-best offense to just three hits in the first game, including a 2-for-3 performance from Rude. The Mavs fell victim to four defensive errors.

Georgia Southern struck early in the bottom of the first. Sam Clakley (12-8) struggled to find a groove, allowing a leadoff single and pair of walks, paving way for a two-RBI single.

UTA posted a pair of its own in the bottom of the second. Shelbi Sikes reached on a throwing error to plate a walk from Garcia. Kasey Everett’s sacrifice fly sent another across to tie it up. Garcia gave the Mavs their first lead of the day in the third with an RBI-single.

Momentum swung toward the Georgia Southern dugout in the fourth and fifth innings as its offense combined for nine runs on six hits, including a two-run homer from Lydia Witkowski. UTA committed three errors in the fifth to build the case for a run-rule.

Clakely received the loss in her four innings. The sophomore tossed seven runs, four earned, on eight hits, five walks and four punchouts. Freshman Mariah Denson was responsible for four runs on one hit in her lone inning.

2016 SBC Freshman of the Year Dixie Raley improved to 8-9, tossing three runs on five hits and four strikeouts.

Georgia Southern continued movement in Game 2, scoring first on a single before Walton powered one of her own to wipe the scoring slate clean at 1-1. The Mavericks’ half included a double from Sandra Mendoza, tying her with Meagan Michele for sixth all-time at 32. Mendoza is now one extra base-hit away from breaking into the career top-10, tying Kristi Bryant and Katy Hermann with 40.

UTA earned a comfortable lead in the bottom of the third as Mendoza reached on a fielding error and Rude singled. Both were pushed across by Walton’s second triple of the season. Foster registered another run on a groundout to bring Walton home, 4-1.

Georgia Southern regained a lead in the top of the fifth as Clakely took control of the circle for Sam Montes. The Eagles strung together five runs on five hits, but the lead wouldn’t last with UTA’s pestering offense.

Reagan Wright singled on two outs and a pinch-hit knock from Marisa Datko ignited a rally. Pinch hitter Bri Burchianti tripled to send both to the dish to even the game at six apiece. The Eagles blasted a two-run shot in the ninth to up the lead, but UTA had the last word the following frame.

The Mavericks combined for 16 hits to the Eagles' 12. Four Mavs had multi-hit games. Rude and Walton were both 3-for-5 with a run, Walton adding three RBI. Garcia was 3-for-6 with a run and RBI.

Denson earned the win to improve to 2-6 on the year. The freshman gave up three runs on four hits and four walks. Starter Sam Montes handed out just one run on five hits and two strikeouts.

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Eagles Split Saturday Doubleheader Against UTA

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - The Georgia Southern softball team split swept UTA in a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon, improving to 15-14 overall, 5-3 in Sun Belt conference play. The Eagles dominated the Mavericks in game one, winning 11-3 in five innings after the mercy rule was implemented. The two teams played throughout regulation and into extra innings in game two, but the Mavericks were able to close out a ten-inning game by defeating GS 9-8.

Photo Gallery

GAME ONE: GS 11, UTA 3 (5 innings)
The Eagles got on the board in the bottom of the first inning when Alesha Mann stepped up with bases loaded, knocking a two-run RBI and giving the Eagles a quick 2-0 lead. The Mavericks tied it up on an error and sacrifice fly in the top of the second inning, and extended that lead with another run in the third.

A five-run fourth inning was highlighted by sophomore Lydia Witkowski, who launched her second home run of the season, a two-run shot to right field to take back the lead. The Eagles continued to threaten throughout that inning, plating two more runners off of an error and another off of a bases-loaded walk, extending their lead to 7-3.

The Mavs continued to struggle in the fifth, committing three errors within the inning that allowed the Eagles to score four more runs. That's all the Eagles needed to finish out the game with an 11-3 victory.

Dixie Raley (W, 9-9) went the distance, allowing three runs on five hits. At the plate, Mekhia Freeman had three hits to lead the way while Emily Snider and Alesha Mann each had two.

GAME TWO: GS 9, UTA 8 (10 innings)
The Eagles scored early in game two, pushing a run across after an RBI-hit from Alesha Mann. The Mavericks responded in the bottom of the first, tying up the score at one after the first inning of play. UTA capitalized in the third inning, scoring three runs which was highlighted by a two-RBI triple from Whitney Walton.

The Eagles responded in the top of the fifth, loading up the bases without an out. Andrea McKenzie hit an RBI-single to center field, and an error by the center fielder allowed the bases to clear while three runs scored, tying up the game. Alesha Mann then stepped up with McKenzie on third and knocked her first homerun of the season over the right-field fence, giving the Eagles a 6-4 lead.

A well-placed hit to right field by Bri Burchianti plated two runners and tied up the ballgame in the fifth inning, 6-6. The score remained tied until the top of the ninth inning when Andrea McKenzie stepped into the box and knocked a two-run homerun for the Eagles, her first of the season. The Mavericks responded to the GS lead in the bottom of the ninth inning, scoring a run early and then putting runners on second and third after a fielding error. The Mavericks were then able to push across the second run of the inning, tying the ballgame at eight and sending it to the tenth.

Mallory Foster was the difference maker in the tenth inning, knocking a triple to the left field wall with only one out. Aileen Garcia then laid a bunt down, scoring Foster and clenching a 9-8 victory.

Kierra Camp got the start for GS, giving up ten hits and six runs throughout five innings of work. Dixie Raley (L, 9-10) was tabbed with the loss after coming in the sixth inning and finishing out the game, throwing five innings in relief.

UP NEXT:
The two teams will wrap up the series with the rubber game on Sunday starting at 12 p.m. Central (1 p.m. ET).

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JAGUAR SOFTBALL DROPS SERIES OPENER TO NO. 17 ULL; GAME TWO SUSPENDED

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama softball team (19-10, 2-5 SBC) fell 8-3 to No. 17/20 Louisiana-Lafayette (21-5, 4-0 SBC) Saturday afternoon in the series opener at Jaguar Field.

Game two of the series was suspended in the bottom of the fourth inning with one out and a runner on third with Louisiana-Lafayette holding a 3-0 lead. The contest will be resumed Sunday at noon with the series finale set to begin approximately 30 minutes following the conclusion of the suspended game.

Live stats and the web stream for Sunday's games can be accessed at www.USAJaguars.com. Reserved seat tickets can be purchased for $8, while general admission seating is available for $5. Jaguar Senior Trading Cards will also be available for fans in addition to a post-game autograph session following Sunday's contest versus the Ragin' Cajuns.

GAME ONE: NO. 17 LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE 8, SOUTH ALABAMA 3
A four-run second inning proved to be the difference Saturday's series opener as Louisiana-Lafayette picked up an 8-3 win.

Alyssa Denham (9-1) went the distance for ULL – her seventh complete game of the season – and allowed three runs – all earned on seven hits, while striking out five.

Kassidy Zeringue was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a RBI, while Kara Gremillion and Aleah Craighton each had two hits apiece.

ULL recorded 11 hits in the game – the most allowed in a game by Jaguar pitching this season. The eight runs scored by ULL were the most allowed by Jag pitching this season at home. Coming into the game, South had given up just four earned runs and 11 total runs in its first 16 home contest this spring.

Devin Brown (9-5) took the loss, allowing seven earned runs on nine hits in 5.2 innings of work.

Haleigh Lane was 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI, while Morgan Lutticken drove in the other two on a pinch-hit home run. USA had its chances in the game, but for the eighth-straight game, the Jaguars left runners on base, stranding 11 in the opener.

ULL jumped out in front with a four-run second inning, courtesy of five hits, including three for extra bases. DJ Sanders led off the inning when she doubled to the gap in left center. Two batters later, Lexie Comeaux brought Sanders as she lined a triple to the gap in right center. Beth Ashley followed with a RBI single of her own to make it a 2-0 for the Cajuns. ULL wasn't done though as Zeringue and reached on an infield single and then with two away in the inning, Gremillion lined a double down the leftfield line to extend Louisiana-Lafayette's lead to 4-0.

For the third time in as many innings, South Alabama placed a pair of runners on base. With one out, Kristian Foster beat out an infield single and Amanda Minahan was then hit by Denham's next pitch to put runners at first and second. After Haleigh Lowe grounded into a fielder's choice Lane delivered as she singled through the right side of the infield to score Minahan all the way from second and cut the deficit to 4-1. USA would be unable to do anymore damage as Denham was able to get Savanna Mayo to pop out to Sanders at short one batter later to end the frame.

Two innings later, ULL got a run back as Craighton recorded a solo shot to left center to put the Cajuns up 5-1. The home run was Craighton's sixth and UL Lafayette's 42nd of the season. It was also the first home run allowed by South Alabama pitching at home this season.

The Jaguars had an excellent scoring chance in bottom of the fifth as they loaded the bases with one out after a pair of Ragin' Cajun errors and Minahan was hit by a pitch, but Denham would get out of the jam as strand USA's seventh, eighth and ninth runners of the game as she hot Lane to ground into a fielder's choice and Mayo to line out to center.

ULL made the Jags pay for not cutting into the Cajun lead as they added two more runs in the top of the sixth to extend their advantage out to 7-1. With two on, Gremillion singled to left scoring Zeringue who had reached on a fielder's choice and then after an infield single by Hayden, Craighton drove in her second run of the game when she was hit by a pitch from Jag reliever Chandler Sparkman, extending ULL's advantage to 7-1

South tried to mount a late rally in the bottom of the sixth as Abby Krzywiecki reached on an infield single to start the frame and then down 0-2 in the count, Lutticken recorded her first career home run as she lined a shot over the wall in left, cutting the deficit to 7-3.

The Ragin' Cajuns answered back the next half inning with a run. With runners at second and third, Zeringue laid down a nice bunt that Jag catcher Aly Smith had to field. Chelsea Lotieff – pinch running for Daniella Chavez, who was hit by a pitch, at third – was able to score on Zeringue's bunt.

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App State Falls to GSU in Conference Doubleheader

DECATUR, GA. – Appalachian State University softball dropped two to Georgia State on Saturday at the Robert E. Heck Softball Stadium in Decatur, Ga. The Mountaineers fell to the Panthers 12-2 in five innings and slipped to the Sun Belt Conference foe 5-3 in game two.

Appalachian State (12-15, 0-5 SBC) banged out ten hits on Saturday and four Mountaineers knocked in RBI including Natalie Orcutt, who went 3-for-5 at the plate and registered her third home run of the season, the ninth of her career.

Three ladies saw action at the mound for the conference doubleheader and Kenzie Longanecker pitched her third complete game of the season.

Game One: GSU 12, App State,2 (5 innings)

Two five-run outings doomed the Mountaineers as Georgia State (20-11 6-2 SBC) downed Appalachian 12-2 in five innings.

In the first, Georgia State loaded the bases to put the Mountaineers on their toes and came out of the inning with one run, but the Apps countered the Panthers’ attack putting up a pair thanks to a two-run jack by Orcutt who brought along Katie Mathewson who reached on a walk.

At the bottom of the second, the Panthers snatched their lead back tacking on five runs from a two-run RBI single, a sac. fly and a two-run homer to end the inning up by four.

After scoring a single run in the third, GSU neutralized App’s offense and went on a scoring frenzy at the bottom of the fourth adding on five more runs. The Black and Gold never recovered from the ten-run deficit and the Panthers routed the Mountaineers 12-2 in five innings.

Mathewson turning in a perfect performance at the plate going 1-for-1.

Game Two: GSU 5, App State 3

Despite a fifth inning rally that put the Mountaineers within two runs, GSU outlasted Appalachian 5-3 to take the doubleheader sweep.

The Panthers hopped onto the scoreboard first seizing a one-run lead, but Cara Parker answered back at the top of the second with a RBI single to even up the score at one apiece.

The tie did not last long as the Panthers regained their lead tacking on three off a RBI double at the bottom of the second and scored their fifth run of the game off a single at the bottom of the third.

At the top of the fifth, Appalachian’s bats started getting hot cutting the Panthers’ lead to two. Jenny Dodd and Haley Stewart whacked out back-to-back doubles and Sidney Russell brought home Dodd on a sac. fly. Right after that, Keri White slapped out a RBI single to open the lane for Stewart to dash home to shrink GSU’s lead to 5-3.

With the game close, the Mountaineers were eager to initiate a scoring run to get back into the ballgame, but the Panthers halted App State’s offensive attack and snagged game two away from the Apps.

Up Next

The Black and Gold will wrap up their conference series with Georgia State tomorrow, March 26, at noon at the Robert E. Heck Softball Stadium.

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Softball Falls in Two Close Games Against Coastal Carolina

CONWAY, S.C. –Troy (15-18, 3-5) continued conference play with a double header against Coastal Carolina. The Trojans fell by one run in both games. The Chanticleers (23-8, 3-4) picked up a 4-3 win in game one and a 3-2 walk-off win in game two.

Game one: Troy 3, Coastal Carolina 4

Troy started the first game of the day off strong, but could not make the adjustments as Coastal Carolina’s Taylor Rahach got hot in the circle.

Becca Hartley started the game off with a lead-off double and followed that up with a solo home run in the top of the third inning. Hussey also put a run up with a solo shot over the center field wall, her third home run of the season.

Hartley went 2-for-4 at the plate and scored two runs with an average of .357. Hussey went 1-for-2 with one run scored and .286 average at the plate.

Rachel Rigney Brown earned the start in the circle for Troy, and was relieved by sophomore Peyton Glover after 3.1 innings and four earned runs. Glover got in a jam after walking several batter and Meg Willis took over to finish the game.

Game two: Troy 2, CCU 3

A messy first inning with two errors from the Chanticleers brought Troy runs across the plate. Maddie Porter and Katie Webb each got on base early with base hit, and Snyder and Porter were able to score for the Trojans.

Four walked batters and a hit by pitch in the bottom of the first allowed the Chanticleers to bring in two runs and tie the game.

After six scoreless innings, Timi Tooley got walked for the Chanticleers, stole second and advanced the third. Kassidy Smith hit a line drive to left field. Stephanie Snyder’s effort to make the catch to send the game into extras came up just short as the winning run came across the plate for Coastal Carolina.

Maddie Porter and Katie Webb both went 1-for-3 at the plate. Grace Mirly made an appearance and got a base hit into center field.

Claire Graves pitched a complete game for the Trojans. She faced 32 batters through 6.2 innings of work and threw one strikeout in game two. Graves now moves to 7-3 on the season.

NOTEWORTHY
• Hartley tied her career-high 11 home runs in game one. She now has 34 career homers, and holds the fourth place spot in the Troy record book. She has scored 121 total runs in her career to move into the 10th place spot in Troy history.
•Madeline Porter has reached base in 11 consecutive games, a team and career high.
• Hartley leads the team with a .343 average at the plate, a .755 slugging percentage, 31 runs scored, and 27 RBIs.

UP NEXT
Troy will close out the series with Coastal Carolina on Sunday, March 25 at 11 a.m. CT. The Trojans will then travel to Mobile, Ala., to face in-state conference rival South Alabama on Wednesday, March 29 at 6 p.m.