Championship Central
Box Scores: Game 1 |  Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4
 
LAFAYETTE, La. – The 2018 Sun Belt Softball Championship got off to an exciting start as fifth-seeded Troy won a couple of one-run contests and third-seeded Georgia State cruised to its opening victory to move on in the top half of the bracket.
 
The second day of the 2018 championship gets underway Thursday at 10 a.m. (CT) with another quartet of games. All games are set for live coverage exclusively on ESPN+ with Drew Fellios and Francesca Enea on the call from Alfred and Helen Lamson Park.
 
Troy opened the championship in walk-off fashion as senior outfielder Carli Kayler, on her birthday, blasted solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the Trojans to a 3-2 victory over eighth-seeded ULM.
 
Troy came back later in the afternoon and grabbed a 2-1 victory over fourth-seeded UTA. In the Trojans’ second win of the day, both runs came in the third on an RBI double by sophomore shortstop Logan Calhoun and an RBI single by sophomore first base Katie Webb that scored Calhoun.
 
Georgia State scored early and often in its 8-3 victory over sixth-seeded South Alabama in the final game of the day. Both teams put up a couple of runs in the first inning, but then the Panthers responded to the Jaguars regaining the lead with a four-run, third, highlighted by a two-run RBI single by freshman shortstop Skylar Mosel, to take a 6-3 lead. Georgia State tacked on two more runs in the fourth on sophomore shortstop Kirsten McMonigle’s first home run of the season.
 
South Alabama reached its matchup with Georgia State after 3-2 win earlier in the day over seventh-seeded Georgia Southern. With the score tied 1-1, the Jaguars plated the go-ahead runs in the bottom of the fifth on a sacrifice fly by sophomore outfielder Brittani Reid and an RBI single up the middle by senior shortstop Kristian Foster. Georgia Southern cut the lead  to one on a solo home run by sophomore designated player Allyssah Mullis in the top of the sixth. The South Alabama defense closed the door on an Eagles' comeback with a 1-2-3 seventh to end the game.
 
Follow the 2018 championship on Twitter (@SunBelt) and Facebook (fb.com/SunBeltConference).
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
All Times Central and Subject to Change
 
Thursday, May 10                                                           
Game 5 – #5 Troy vs. #1 Texas State (ESPN+), 10:00 AM
Game 6 – #3 Georgia State vs. #2 Louisiana (ESPN+), 12:30 PM
Game 7 – #6 South Alabama vs. Game 5 Loser (ESPN+), 3:00 PM
Game 8 – #4 UTA vs. Game 6 Loser (ESPN+), 5:30 PM
                                                       
Friday, May 11
Game 9 – Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner (ESPN+), 11:00 AM
Game 10 – Game 7 Winner vs. Game 8 Winner (ESPN+), 2:00 PM
Game 11 – Game 9 Loser vs. Game 10 Winner (ESPN+), 5:00 PM
                                             
Saturday, May 12
Game 12 - Championship Game (ESPN+), 1:00 PM
 
Sunday, May 13
NCAA Division I Softball Championship Selection Show (ESPN2), 9:00 PM