Six-Run Second Inning Fuels GSU Rout of Georgia Southern
ATLANTA – Behind five innings of one-hit softball by senior pitcher Katie Worley, Georgia State defeated rival Georgia Southern 8-0 in six innings in the first game of a three-game series Friday to pull even with the Eagles in the conference standings with two games to play.
Worley and freshman Amanda Chance combined to shutout the Eagles and hold them to just one hit over six innings while sophomore Ivie Drake and junior Kensey Caldwell provided two RBI each to defeat the Eagles.
GSU scored six runs in the second inning, beginning with an RBI-double by freshman Reagan Morgan to score sophomore Brenna Skalski. A bases-loaded walk by senior Taylor Anderson scored the second run and a Drake single brought home sophomore Taylor Bradley and junior Morgan Brown to make it 4-0. Caldwell then doubled to score Anderson and Drake to cap the big inning.
Georgia State added a run in the fifth with an RBI-single by Bradley and freshman Remington Hasty ended the game in the sixth with a sac fly to give the Panthers the eight-run lead.
Worley struck out four and picked up her 13th win of the season.
Georgia State and Georgia Southern will play a doubleheader Saturday with the first game starting at 1 p.m. GSU will recognize its three seniors following the second game, which marks the end of the regular season. The Panthers and Eagles are playing for seeding position in next week’s conference tournament hosted by South Alabama.
----------
SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State softball team extended its conference winning streak to 11 games after a doubleheader sweep of UT Arlington Friday night. The Bobcats won game one by a score of 2-0 before taking the second game by a 6-3 margin. Texas State improved to 35-18 overall and 14-9 in Sun Belt Conference play.
An RBI single by Sara Rupp combined with Corrina Liscano scoring on an illegal pitch put the Bobcats ahead of UTA in game one. Then the 'Cats strung together seven hits in an explosive first inning to pull ahead in game two and take the doubleheader sweep.
Randi Rupp improved to 25-10 on the year after her complete game shutout in game one while Paige Williams earned the victory in game two. Texas State has now won the last five straight games against UTA.
WHO STOOD OUT:
Randi Rupp / P / Sophomore / Mont Belvieu, Texas
Rupp earned her 25th victory of the season to now set a career-high for wins in a season. She registered five strikeouts in the win which improves her to 290 this season, just three shy of matching her total set during her freshman campaign. Rupp has now lowered her season ERA to 1.63.
Taylor Webb / RF / Sophomore / Richmond, Texas
Webb recorded hits in both games including two hits in game two to extend her hitting streak to four games. It was the ninth multi-hit game of the season for Webb and she helped contribute to the six consecutive hits in the bottom of the first inning for Texas State. Webb drove in a run on her hit in the first and she ultimately scored. She has raised her batting average to a team-high .323 overall and .371 in Sun Belt Conference play.
Corrina Liscano / 3B / Junior / Pomona, Calif.
Liscano joins Webb as the two players who recorded three hits on the night. With at least one hit in each game tonight, Liscano has extended her hitting streak to a career-high and team-high five games. Liscano led the Bobcats with a 2-for-2 effort from the plate in game one with a walk. She scored both runs in the doubleheader opener for Texas State as she went home on Sara Rupp's single as well as an illegal pitch in the sixth. Liscano made it all the way to third after a sacrifice bunt by Webb before scoring on the illegal pitch after Alex Cruz's at bat.
Paige Williams / P / Junior / Rogers, Texas
Williams came in relief in game two and earned her first victory since March 5 against Detroit. Williams put in four innings of scoreless work for the Bobcats while allowing just two hits. She struck out four to bring the Bobcat total up to six in the game. She improves to 6-4 this season.
SCORING:
GAME ONE
Bottom 4th – Back-to-back singles with one out by Corrina Liscano and Taylor Webb set the Bobcats up with a runner in scoring position. A fielder's choice play by Jaelyn Young advanced Liscano to third and Sara Rupp brought her home on a single to right center. (1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on base)
Bottom 6th – Liscano recorded an infield single to lead-off of the sixth. She proceeded to advance all the way to third on a sacrifice bunt by Webb. Alex Cruz came in to pinch hit after Webb's sacrifice and drew a walk on five pitches. The fifth pitch of the at bat was an illegal pitch and Liscano advanced home. (1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on base)
GAME TWO
Top 1st – UT Arlington had a batter reach base after a strikeout due to a wild pitch. A ground ball with two outs advanced the runner to second before a single through the right side brought her around to score. (1 run, 1 hit, 0 error, 1 left on base)
Bottom 1st – Six consecutive hits by Liscano, Webb, Kendall Wiley, Cruz, Young, and Bianca Prado in order led to six runs to take over the lead from UT Arlington. Baker also registered a hit in the inning as she led the inning off with a single through the left side. (6 runs, 7 hits, 1 error, 1 left on base)
Top 3rd – Back-to-back singles to lead-off the inning for UT Arlington set the Mavericks up with a runner in scoring position. A ground out to second moved the runners to second and third before another ground out to second scored the second run of the game. A single to the shortstop scored the second run of the inning. (2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on base)
NOTES:
In game one of the day in a pinch hit situation, Cruz hit a double off of the wall in left field to make that five consecutive hits for the sophomore dating back to game two against Appalachian State last weekend.
Randi Rupp threw her 17th complete game and eighth solo shutout in game one. She is now just three strikeouts away from matching her total from her freshman campaign and she continues to lead the league with 25 victories.
Game two tonight was the eighth time this season where Texas State had at least 10 hits in a game. Three of those eight games have occurred in the last five games.
NEXT UP:
The Bobcats will conclude the 2016 regular season Saturday afternoon with a single game against UT Arlington. First pitch against the Mavs is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Bobcat Softball Stadium.