PANTHERS WIN WITH CALDWELL'S WALKOFF GRAND SLAM

ATLANTA - Georgia State (26-12, 11-3 SBC) won both games Saturday on walkoffs, defeating UT Arlington 3-2 in Game 1 and 10-6 in Game 2, thanks to a walkoff grand slam by Kensey Caldwell.
Game 1: Georgia State 3, UT Arlington 2 (Nine Innings)

Game 1 on Saturday was an exciting pitchers’ duel that saw just four combined runs in the first seven innings. Kinsley Jennings held the Mavericks to two runs in six innings, but took a no decision in the contest. Mandy Chance came on in relief and threw 3.0 innings of no-hit softball to pick up her sixth win of the season.

The Panthers struck first with a pair of runs in the third inning. Kirsten McMonigle and Reagan Morgan each hit RBI singles to give GSU the first runs of the game. UT Arlington then added a run in the fifth before tying the game in the seventh. The Mavs threatened to go on top in the seventh, but a nice defensive play caught the go-ahead runner out at home.

Georgia State loaded the bases in the bottom half with Kensey Caldwell at the plate. Caldwell hit a grounder to the second basemen who attempted to get the force out at home, but a poor throw bounced away from the catcher and allowed Morgan Brown to safely cross the plate for the game-winning run.

With the win, Georgia State improves to 5-2 in extra-inning games this season.

Game 2: Georgia State 10, UT Arlington 6

UT Arlington scored the first four runs in Game 2, holding a 4-0 lead before Kylee Love launched a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth. The Mavericks added another run in the fifth to go up 5-3, but Megan Litumbe joined the home run party with a three-run shot in the sixth to put GSU in front 6-5. However, UT Arlington would pull even with a run in the top of the seventh.

Kensey Caldwell once again found herself at the plate with a chance to win it for the Panthers. With the bases full and the game tied at 6-6 in the bottom of the seventh, Caldwell lifted her sixth home run of the year to once again walk-off the Mavericks and win it for Georgia State. For the doubleheader Saturday, Caldwell went 5-for-9 with three runs and four RBI.

GSU used three pitchers in Game 2, beginning with Peyton Worsham. Worsham allowed just one earned in 3.0 innings before Chance entered the game and went 3.2, giving up just two earned. Jennings entered the game in the seventh and recorded the final out, stranding the bases loaded and keeping the score tied. Jennings earned her 12th win of the season which leads the GSU pitching staff.

Georgia State will go for the series sweep over UT Arlington Sunday at noon.

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

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Louisiana Takes Two From Troy in Return to Lamson Park

LAFAYETTE – Aleah Craighton homered in both games, part of a four-hit effort, and the pitching staff limited Troy to one run and six hits over 12 innings as 16th-ranked Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Softball claimed a 3-1, 11-0 (5 inn.) doubleheader sweep on Saturday at Lamson Park.

With the sweep, the Ragin' Cajuns (28-5, 11-0 Sun Belt) extended their season-high winning streak to 11 games. At 11-0 in Sun Belt Conference play, it's the best start since opening 12-0 in the 2005 season.

Louisiana also captured the series victory from Troy, extending the school and Sun Belt Conference record of consecutive conference series won to 33 straight dating back to March 2013.

The Ragin' Cajuns and Trojans (16-24, 4-11 Sun Belt) conclude the weekend series on Sunday with a single game scheduled for Noon. There will be an Easter egg hunt for all children in attendance after the conclusion of the game.

Due to the ticketing system at Lamson Park being under repair, fans are encouraged to buy tickets for the Troy finale, and Tuesday's game vs. Southeastern Louisiana, in advance on Ticketmaster.com.

Fans choosing to purchase tickets at Lamson Park are encouraged to bring cash. Credit card sales will be available on the Sales Deck mobile app.

The Ragin' Cajuns came out on top in Game 1 of Saturday's twinbill after back-to-back home runs by Haley Hayden and Craighton to lead off the bottom of the fifth snapped a 1-1 tie.

That made a winner out of freshman pitcher Alyssa Denham who scattered four hits over seven innings and struck out five. After Erica Davis led off the Troy half of the sixth with a single, Denham retired the next six batters in order to wrap up the win improving her to 11-1 overall and 5-0 in Sun Belt play.

Denham and Troy starter Claire Graves swapped scoreless over the first two innings. Troy took the lead first with a solo home run from Becca Hartley in the third inning. Louisiana drew even in the bottom half of the inning, getting a run on a two-out single by Daniella Chavez.

The trio of Craighton, DJ Sanders and Corin Voinchè each homered and combined for nine RBI to pace the Ragin' Cajuns in the 11-0 (5 inn.) triumph in Game 2 which completed the sweep.

Louisiana piled up all of its runs in the first three innings, starting with a four-spot out of the gate. Kara Gremillion tripled and scored on a Hayden single to start the scoring in the bottom of the first. Hayden later scored on a Lexie Comeaux fielder's choice grounder and the final two runs came across on a two-run single by Voinchè.

Peyton Glover relieved Trojans starter Meg Willis in the second inning trailing 4-0, but was unable to slow down the Ragin' Cajuns offense.

Glover yielded seven additional runs as Louisiana received a two-run homer from Craighton in the second inning, solo homer by Voinchè to lead off the third inning and a grand slam by Sanders later in the third.

Craighton's home run was her second of the day. She finished the doubleheader 4-for-5 with five runs scored, two home runs and three RBI.

Voinchè tallied a season-high three RBI in the contest and capped off a 3-for-5 day at the plate with her first home run since the 2014 season. Sanders' grand slam marked her 18th home run of the season, matching her career-high total set just last season.

Alex Stewart and Summer Ellyson combined for the two-hit shutout. Stewart pitched three hitless innings and struck out five, while Ellyson worked the final two frames and fanned an additional two Trojans hitters.

Stewart improved her 2017 season record to 13-3 overall and 6-0 in Sun Belt play. She improved her career Sun Belt record to 27-1.

DIAMOND NOTES
- The doubleheader attendance of 2,088 increased the season total attendance to 32,266 which is a new school record, eclipsing the previous record of 31,261 set in 2016.
- The Ragin' Cajuns pitching staff extended its season-long trend of holding foes to five runs or less to 33 games. In that streak, the staff has allowed two runs or fewer 21 times.
- Alex Stewart has yielded just four runs and 13 hits over her past 21 innings of work (dates back to March 25-26 South Alabama series).
- Louisiana's offense has cranked multiple home runs in 15 of the past 19 games.
- Haley Hayden's solo home run in the fifth inning of Game 1 represented her 97th career extra base hit (47 doubles, 6 triples, 44 home runs).
- Alyssa Denham reached five strikeouts for the fourth time in Sun Belt play and fifth time overall. Alex Stewart also collected five strikeouts as she reached the mark for the fifth time in six Sun Belt starts.
- Corin Voinchè started in the No. 7 slot in the batting order for the second straight weekend. Since taking over the spot, the senior first baseman is batting 7-for-16 (.438) with a home run and four RBI. She's reached base nine times over 18 plate appearances.
- Dating back to the 2016 series in Troy, Alex Stewart has held Troy scoreless, allowed just seven hits and struck out 21 over 15 innings pitched.
- Louisiana improved to 24-0 this season when scoring at least six runs. The Game 2 production of 11 runs marked the 11th time reaching double digits.
- The Ragin' Cajuns were solid defensively once again. The squad, who played error-free over three games last weekend at Georgia Southern, extended the current streak off error-free outings to five games.
- Louisiana increased its all-time series lead over Troy to 33-5 and extended its current series win streak to seven games. The Ragin' Cajuns have won 14 of the past 15 meetings dating back to the 2012 season.

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Ortiz Breaks Home Run Record; Bobcats Take Two At South Alabama

MOBILE, Ala. – Ariel Ortiz set the Texas State career home run record with her 30th dinger in game one and Randi Rupp earned two wins as the Bobcats blanked South Alabama in Saturday's Sun Belt doubleheader at Jaguar Field.

The Bobcats took game one 5-0 and game two 1-0

Texas State is now 28-8 on the season and 10-3 in Sun Belt play, while South Alabama falls to 24-14 overall and 6-9 against league foes.

Game One Recap

It took Ariel Ortiz 35 games into her junior season to become Texas State's all-time home run leader with 30th career round-trippers.

Ortiz broke open a 1-0 game in the fifth with a three-run inside-the-park homer as Texas State went on the take game one of the day's doubleheader by a 5-0 final over South Alabama.

Ortiz and Taylor Webb led the Bobcats at the plate as both hit a double and home run. Ortiz was 2-for-4 with four RBI and Webb 2-for-2 with a RBI, walk and stolen base. Along with Webb and Ortiz, Jaelyn Young (double), Bailee Carter (single) and Kennedy Cline (single) collected base knocks to account for the Bobcats' seven hits.

Randi Rupp, who moved into sole possession of third on the TXST career strikeout list with 810 on a strikeout of Morgan Lutticken in the second, pitched her sixth complete game shutout of the season in improving to 17-5. The junior fanned 12 Jaguars, marking her seventh double-digit strikeout performance of the season, and scattered six hits, while only issuing one free pass.

South Alabama led off the home half of the first with back-to-back singles and a sac bunt to put two runners in scoring position with one down. However, Rupp squashed the Jaguar threat with consecutive strikeouts to keep the game scoreless.

Taylor Webb gave the Bobcats a 1-0 lead in the second with a two-out solo home run. The blast, which cleared the scoreboard in left center, was Webb's seventh of the season and first since March 18 against Appalachian State.

Texas State moved two runners into scoring position in the fourth with two outs, but the Bobcats were not able to capitalize as USA's Destin Vicknair escaped the inning with a routine grounder to third.

In the fourth South Alabama used a double and a walk along with a two stolen bases to again put two runners in scoring position, but Rupp induced a grounder to short the was gloved deep in the hole by Ortiz, who fired in time to first for the third out.

Ortiz cleared the bases with her record-setting homer in the fifth, boosting the Bobcat to a 4-0 lead. Sara Rupp led off the frame with a walk, pinch runner Jaclyn Molenaar moved to second on a sac bunt and took third on Lexi Fryar's pinch-hit grounder to shortstop. Christiana McDowell then drew a walk and stole second to set the stage for Ortiz. The junior sent Vicknair's 2-1 offering into center field where it was lost in the sun by the Jaguar defender and ricocheted to the wall in right center. Ortiz, who was running hard out of the box, crossed home for her 12th round-tripper of the season without a throw to the plate.

Vicknair (10-6) suffered the loss in the circle, throwing a complete game with four strikeouts and seven hits allowed.

Game Two Recap

Christiana McDowell singled home Haleigh Davis to break a scoreless tie in the top of the seventh as Texas State downed South Alabama 1-0 in game two of the day's doubleheader.

Quincy Charleston, who did not factor into the decision, started and went 4.1 innings for the Bobcats (28-8, 10-3 Sun Belt) before giving way to Randi Rupp with one out and a runner on in the fifth. Rupp (18-5) threw the final 2.3 innings, surrendering only a single hit, while striking out four, including the final batter of the game with the tying run on third.

Each of the TXST's six hits in the game were by different Bobcats with only Taylor Webb's double in the fourth falling for extra bases.

The game was hitless until the bottom of the third when the Jaguars legged out back-to-back with one out. Charleston responded to strand both Jaguars with consecutive ground balls to Corrina Liscano at third, who tagged the advancing runner each time.

South Alabama loaded the bases in the fourth on consecutive singles with two outs. But like she did an inning prior, Charleston stranded the runners as she got Kaleigh Todd to hit a chopper to Ariel Ortiz at short. Through four innings of play, Charleston prompted 10 Jaguar ground outs.

Davis led off the Texas State fifth with a walk, was bunted to second by Kennedy Cline and sent to third as Bailee Carter singled through the right side, putting runners on the corners. The Bobcats were unable to take advantage as Davis was thrown out at home on Jaclyn Molenaar's fielder's choice and USA's Destin Vicknair escaped unscathed with a pop up to first for the third out.

After a scoreless sixth, Davis opened the seventh with a single through the left side. Cline followed with a bunt single and Jaclyn Molenaar walked two batters later to load the bases with one out. McDowell came through with the game-deciding RBI on a sharply hit single to short, scoring Davis for a 1-0 Bobcat lead.

Megan Harris then led off the bottom of the seventh with a single and moved to third after a sac bunt and ground out. However, Rupp kept the tying run 60 feet away as she fanned Amanda Minahan to end the game.

Vicknair (10-7was saddled with the loss, throwing a complete game with four strikeouts and six hits allowed.

UP NEXT
Texas State and South Alabama conclude the three-game series with a single game Sunday (April 9) at 1 p.m.

BOBCATS' STRIKE OUT CANCER GAME SET FOR APRIL 12 VS. BAYLOR
• Texas State softball will support the NFCA Strikeout Cancer initiate on April 12 against Big 12 foe Baylor. The game, which is proudly presented by Phi Kappa Psi - Texas Gamma, will feature the Bobcats wearing pink jerseys in support of the initiative. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game and will have a chance to donate to Pink Heals Hays County, which champions the mission of inspiring communities to come together for the love of their people and not one specific disease or cause. For more information, visit PinkHealsHaysCounty.org.

FOLLOW THE BOBCATS
For all of the latest news and information on Bobcat softball, visit TXSTATEBOBCATS.com. Fans can also follow the program on its social media outlets at www.Facebook.com/TXStateSoftball along on Twitter (@TXStateSoftball) and Instagram (@TXStateSoftball).

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Softball Sweeps Coastal Carolina in Saturday Doubleheader

STATESBORO, Ga. - The Georgia Southern softball team swept Coastal Carolina in a Sun Belt doubleheader on Saturday afternoon, improving to 17-19 overall, 7-7 in Sun Belt conference play. The Eagles held on to win game one, 8-7, and dominated the Chants in game two with an 8-0 victory in six innings.

GAME ONE: GS 8, CCU 7
Senior Emily Snider started off game one by launching a two-run homerun over the left field wall and giving GS the early lead. That homerun marked a new career high for Snider, who has hit eight homeruns this season.

Shelby Wilson knocked an RBI single up the middle in the bottom of the second inning to plate another run and extend the Eagles lead, 4-0. The Chanticleers scored two runs off of a single from Adriana Toro in the bottom of the fourth, cutting the lead 4-2.

Shelby Wilson continued her successful day at the plate in the fourth inning with a solo shot over the center field wall, her second homerun of the season. The Chants responded and took their first lead of the ballgame in the top of the fifth after plating four runs.

Georgia Southern took the lead back in the sixth inning after loading up the bases with no outs. Three walks turned into three runs for the Eagles, who finished the game with an 8-7 win.

Dixie Raley got the start in the circle, throwing 4.2 innings while striking out six. Heather Felt (W, 1-0) came in relief and picked up the win, throwing 1.2 innings. Kierra Camp collected her second save of the year, finishing out the game for the Eagles.

At the plate, Emily Snider, Lydia Witkowski and Shelby Wilson all had two hits while Morgan Robinson and Mekhia Freeman had one.

GAME 2: GS 8, CCU 0 (6)
Alesha Mann got action started in the second inning of game two by knocking a double off the wall in centerfield. Macy Weeks then laid down a perfectly placed bunt that rolled through the infield, scoring Mann and putting the Eagles on the board first. Mann continued her offensive success in the third inning when she knocked a triple off the wall and scored another two Eagles.

Morgan Robinson stepped up in the fourth with two runners on and knocked a ball deep over the fence in center, extending the Eagles lead to 6-0. Mekhia Freeman came around to score on a wild pitch in the sixth, and a drop third strike allowed another GS runner to score and implement the run rule.

Kierra Camp (W, 6-6) went the distance in the circle for Georgia Southern, throwing all six innings and only allowing three hits. Alesha Mann led the way offensively with two hits, Freeman, Robinson and Macy Weeks each had one.

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

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Softball Sweeps Saturday Doubleheader Over App State

MONROE, La. - The ULM softball team completed a two game sweep of visiting Appalachian State on Saturday afternoon, grabbing a 2-0 game one victory before a 2-1 win in game two in Sun Belt Conference action at Geo-Surfaces Field.

TURNING POINT

-In game one, the Warhawks opened up the scoring in the first inning when Melanie Coyne had a two run double that gave the Warhawks all the run support they would need to take the opener.

-In game two, the Mountaineers tied the game with a run in the fifth that eventually sent the game to extra innings. In the ninth, Jesse Watts' RBI single back up the middle scored Cheyanne Lyon to give the Warhawks the sweep.

NOTABLES

-Jayden Mount, Lyon, Watts and Coyne (2 RBI) combined for the Warhawks' four hits in game one. Coyne picked up the win in game one as she threw a complete game shutout. She scattered four hits on the afternoon while striking out one

-Hunter Hogan led the Warhawks in game two with a pair of hits, while Sydney McKay, Lyon, Mount and Watts each added a base hit with McKay and Watts picking up RBIs.

-Paige Porter went the distance for the Warhawks in the second game, as she threw a season-high nine innings while giving up just one run and striking out seven Mountaineer batters.

UP NEXT

-The Warhawks close the weekend series against Appalachian State on Sunday at 11:00 a.m.

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Troy Softball Falls to UL Lafayette

LAFAYETTE, Louisiana- Troy (16-24, 4-11 SBC) fell to No. 16 UL Lafayette (28-5, 11-0 SBC) 3-1 in game one and 11-0 in game two in Saturday's doubleheader at Lamson Park.

Game one: Troy 1, ULL 3
The Trojans held the number one scoring offense in the country to just three runs in game one. UL-Lafayette is averaging 8.42 runs per game this season.

Troy took an early lead as Becca Hartley crushed her 14th home run of the season in the third inning, but the runs stalled for Troy in the rest of the game as no other Trojans were able to work their way across the plate.

UL Lafayette answered back with an RBI single from reigning Sun Belt player of the week Daniella Chavez, but the Trojan defense was able to prevent any more damage through the fourth inning.

The Ragin' Cajuns posted two back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the fifth from Haley Hayden and Aleah Craighton to take a 3-1 lead.

For Troy, Cassidy McDilda went 1-for-1 at the plate, while Hartley went 1-for-3 with one hit and one RBI with her solo home run.

In the circle, Claire Graves earned her 17th start and put in 4.2 innings of work, throwing two strikeouts and allowed three earned runs. Meg Willis came in as relief to work the Trojans out of a jam in the bottom of the fifth. She did not allow the Ragin' Cajuns to get another hit.

Game two: Troy 0, ULL 11
UL Lafayette defeated Troy 11-0 in five innings in game two.

The Ragin' Cajuns put up four runs off of five hits in the first inning before the Trojan defense was able to get out of the inning.

UL Lafayette scored two more runs in the second inning after a two-run home run from Aleah Craighton. In the third inning, the nation's home run leader, DJ Sanders hit a grand slam to take an 11-0 lead.

Katie Webb got the Trojans' first hit in the top of the fifth with a single to left field, and Grace Mirly got on base with a fielder's choice, but Webb got out on the play. Cassidy McDilda followed with Troy's second base hit of the game to put two Troy runners on base.

Brooke Echols entered the game to pinch hit for Logan Calhoun and got on base with another fielder's choice. With two outs, Carli Kayler battled through nine pitches, but UL Lafayette's seventh strikeout of the game gave the Ragin' Cajuns their 11th straight conference win.

Meg Willis got her second career start in the circle and was relieved by Peyton Glover after one inning. Glover threw 1.2 innings before Graves made her second appearance of the day to close out the game. Glover and Graves each threw one strikeout in game two. Willis now moves to 1-2 on the season.

NOTEWORTHY
• Becca Hartley leads the team in batting average (.347), slugging percentage (.785), on base percentage (.477), runs scored (36), hits (42), RBIs (35), home runs (14) and total bases (95).

• Hartley is just two home runs shy of tying Hannah Day for the third place single season record.

• Katie Webb made her first base debut today. Maddie Porter played third and Erica Davis played second.

UP NEXT
Troy will close out the series against the Ragin' Cajuns on Sunday at noon before returning home to host ULM on Friday and Saturday, April 14 and 15.

For more on Troy softball, visit TroyTrojans.com and follow @TroyAthletics and @TroyTrojansSB on Twitter.

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Softball Drops Two Close Battles to ULM

MONROE, LA. – Appalachian State University softball dropped a pair of hard-fought battles to ULM on Saturday in a conference doubleheader at the ULM Softball Complex at Geo-Surfaces Field in Monroe, La.

Appalachian State (12-23, 0-11 SBC) slapped out nine hits on Saturday, and Natalie Orcutt batted over .500 at the plate smashing out two hits in both games. The Georgia native extended her on-base streak to 12 straight games and went for extra bases hitting her third triple of the season in the first game, and smacking out her tenth double in the second. Orcutt is now tied for third on the single-season record list for triples and is tied for seventh in career triples.

Also, Jenny Dodd shot out her 14th career home run, which ties Pepper Butler and Michelle Lighton for seventh in school history.

Two pitchers saw action in the circle in Monroe, and Kenzie Longanecker surged her way onto App State’s single-season record list firing out four strikeouts for a combined 91 to surpass Caitlin Wainright (2010) at No. 10, who formerly held the tenth-best spot with 90 strikeouts.

Game One: ULM 2, App State 0 (9 innings)

The Warhawks (23-15, 7-7 SBC) jumped out to an early lead after a two-run RBI double in the first and held that edge in the next six innings to skid past the Mountaineers 2-0.

After the first inning, App State’s defense held ULM to five-straight scoreless outings to keep the game within reach, but the Apps struggled offensively to challenge ULM. After going down in order in the second, the Mountaineers put runners in scoring position for every following inning, but couldn’t knock anyone in to cut ULM’s advantage.

Orcutt highlighted the offense going 2-for-3 at the plate and reached base on all three of her at-bats.

Vanessa Ciocatto (1-8) pitched her first complete game of the season in 6.0 innings and only allowed two runs on five hits.

Game Two: ULM 2, App State 1

Despite App tying up the game at one apiece to push the conference showdown to extra innings, the Warhawks hit a walk-off single to take the doubleheader sweep, 2-1.

ULM broke through first scoring a run on a RBI single at the bottom of the third, but App State equalized the Warhawks’ attack thanks to Dodd blasting out a solo jack over the right-center fence in the fifth.

After two innings of great pitching and sound defense from both sides, neither team could strike up the right offensive play to break the tie, so the game went into extra innings.

In the ninth, the Mountaineers loaded the bases, but ULM left all three stranded and responded in the bottom half with a walk-off single to end the game 2-1.

At the plate, Orcutt turned in another two-hit performance going 2-for-4 and Longanecker (8-9) pitched her fifth complete game of the season in 8.2 innings striking out four batters and yielding only one walk.

Up Next

Black and Gold will wrap up their conference series with ULM tomorrow, April 9 at 12 p.m. at the ULM Softball Complex on Geo-Surfaces Field.

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Softball Drops DH at Georgia Southern

Statesboro, Ga. - Coastal Carolina University hit the road for a three-game Sun Belt Conference series at Georgia Southern and the trip did not start out the way CCU had envisioned, dropping both games of the double-dip.

Game One

The Chants came from four runs down to take a 7-5 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning only to see the home standing Eagles push across three runs to pull out the 8-7 win.

Adriano Toro led CCU's seven-hit attack going four-for-four with a double and four rbi's. Timi Tooley had two hits on the day, with one of those being a double.

After giving up four runs over the first two innings, the Chants scored two runs in the fourth and four in the fifth to take a 6-5 lead. CCU was not done as they added a single run in the sixth to take a two-run lead.

From there the host pushed across three runs in the bottom of the sixth and held on in the top of the seventh to pick up the victory.

Devin Wallace came on in relief, pitching 4.2 innings allowing seven hits and five runs, four earned in picking up the loss (6-4).

Game Two

Game two was all Eagles as the host put six runs across home plate in the second, third and fourth innings on its way to a run-ruled shortened game in the 8-0 loss.

The Chants only had three hits in the loss with Taty Forbes collecting two of those hits and Amanda Daneker picking up the other hit.

Ashley Guillette (10-5) picked up the loss pitching four innings and giving up six hits and six runs. The Chants defense committed two errors giving up an unearned run.

CCU is now 27-12 overall and drops to 5-6 in conference action while Georgia Southern moves to 17-19 overall and 7-7 in conference action.

The two teams will meet again tomorrow in the series finale as the Chants will look to avoid the sweep. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.

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SB: Late-Inning Drama Lifts GSU To Sweep

ATLANTA - UTA softball fell short in the final at-bats as Georgia State swept a doubleheader at Heck Softball Complex on Saturday.

The Panthers (26-12, 11-3 SBC) walked off in each game as they took at 3-2 win in nine innings in Game 1 and then powered a grand slam in the seventh of Game 2. UTA fell to 19-19 overall and 5-9 in conference play with the pair of set backs.

"I think the girls played hard and competed well," UTA coach Kristie Fox said. "This shows why being the home team is so important in this sport."

The Mavs had their opportunities, leaving a combined 18 runners on base through the pair of games.

"The message was that the line is very thin between a win and a loss, so we need to stay focused and take advantage of every opportunity that we get," Fox said.

Whitney Walton was a bright spot offensively, leading the way with four hits – three coming in Game 2, two RBI and a run scored. Sandra Mendoza joined in with three hits overall to go with a run and RBI.

Georgia State threatened in Game 1 in each of the first two innings, putting rallies together with two outs. However, the third time was the charm as another two-out rally sent across two runs as they made UTA pay for two walks and a hit. The Mavs battled back to get a run back in the fifth and then Shelbi Sikes knocked her first homer of the season to tie the game in the seventh.

The Mavs nearly took the lead in the frame, but a close play at the plate went against UTA to end the threat.

It took Georgia State extras to take the opener. The Panthers loaded the bases and a one out grounded proved to bring in the winning run.

In Game 2 it was the Mavs that got on the board first. Krista Rude was on the positive end of a Laura Curry ground out, scoring from third on the play. Another groundout, this time from Aileen Garcia, brought another across the dish.

Walton's hot bat doubled up the lead with a two-RBI single to bring in Kacey Everett and Mendoza in the fourth.

Georgia State started its comeback in the bottom half with a three-run frame, two coming by the way of a home run.

After Wright and Sikes combined on back-to-back doubles that gave UTA some insurance, the Panthers knocked another base clearer, this time a three-run shot to take the lead.

Bri Burchianti tied the game back up with a pinch-hit single in the seventh on two outs, but GSU used another power shot, a grand slam to sweep the day.

Sam Clakley picked up the loss in Game 1, throwing eight innings, striking out five and allowing two earned runs. Gracie Bogle had the loss in Game 2, throwing 0.1 innings. Sam Montes had a quality start as she pitched six frames to start the game.

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JAGUAR SOFTBALL SHUT OUT TWICE AS TEXAS STATE SWEEPS SATURDAY DOUBLEHEADER

MOBILE, Ala. – Texas State picked up a pair of shutout wins Saturday afternoon as the University of South Alabama softball team dropped both games (0-5 and 0-1) of its Sun Belt Conference doubleheader at Jaguar Field.

South Alabama (24-14, 6-9 SBC) will close out the three-game league series versus Texas State (28-8, 10-3 SBC) on Sunday with first pitch versus the Bobcats scheduled for 1 p.m.

GAME ONE: TEXAS STATE 5, SOUTH ALABAMA 0
In game one of Saturday's doubleheader, South Alabama had its five-game win streak snapped by Texas State as the Bobcats picked up a 5-0 win in the opener.

Kaleigh Todd was 2-for-4 at the plate – extending her reached base safely streak to 16 games – for the Jaguars, while Amanda Minahan also had a pair of hits in her three at-bats.

Destin Vicknair (10-6) went the distance for USA and in her seven innings in the circle, she allowed five runs – all earned – on seven hits, while striking out four and walking three.

Texas State's Ariel Ortiz was 2-for-4 with a run scored and four RBI in the win, while Taylor Webb was also 2-for-2 with a run scored, an RBI and a walk. Both Ortiz and Webb recorded home runs for the Bobcats in the win.

Randi Rupp improved to 17-5 with her sixth complete-game shutout of the spring and in her seven innings of work, she scattered six Jaguar hits, struck out 12 and walked just one. Every time South looked as if it might breakthrough on the scoreboard, the junior right-hander squelched the threat and recorded the big outs for the Bobcats.

South Alabama threatened to get on the board in the home half of the first as Todd and MC Nichols began the inning with back-to-back singles and moved in to scoring position on Foster's sac bunt, but R. Rupp ended the threat as she was able to get Minahan and Vicknair swinging to end the frame.

Texas State capitalized on the missed opportunity the next half inning as Webb took Vicknair's 1-1 pitch deep over the wall in left center to put the Bobcats up 1-0. The home run for Webb was her seventh of the spring.

The Jaguars had another scoring opportunity in the bottom of the fourth with runners on second and third and two outs, but R. Rupp was able to get Mayo to ground out to third to end the inning. Minahan dropped in a one-out double in right and beat the throw to second for South's first hit of the inning and Vicknair walked on four-straight, but both were left stranded.

With runners on second and third and two away, Vicknair looked as if she were going to get out of the fifth unscathed as Ortiz lifted a high fly ball to Minahan in center, but the Jag centerfielder lost the ball in the sun and had it hit of her back and roll away. Both Jaclyn Molenaar – pinch running for Sara Rupp who had walked to lead the inning off – and Christiana McDowell, who also walked, came into score and Ortiz raced around the bases for the inside the park home run – her 12th home run of the season.

Texas State added to its lead (5-0) in the top of the seventh with a run on Ortiz's RBI double to centerfield, scoring Carter who led the inning off with a single to center.

GAME TWO: TEXAS STATE 1, SOUTH ALABAMA 0
Texas State took game two of the doubleheader and picked up its fifth-straight shutout in the series as the Bobcats scored late for the 1-0 win.

Megan Harris was the lone Jag to record multiple hits in the loss as she was 2-for-3, while four other Jags also recorded a hit.

Vicknair (10-7) pitched well as went the distance for the second-straight game, surrendering just the one run on six hits, while striking out four and walking four.

R. Rupp entered in relief in the bottom of the fifth and earned her second win of the day, improving to 18-5. In her 2.2 innings, Rupp allowed just one hit and two total base runners, while striking out four more Jaguars. Game two starter Quincy Charleston scattered five hits and walked three in her 4.1 innings in the circle.

McDowell was one of six Bobcats to record a hit and drove in the lone run, while Haleigh Davis also had a hit and scored the game-winner.

The Jaguars tried to get something going in the home half of the third as Todd singled back up the middle and Nichols legged out a bunt single to put two on with one out. Charleston though was able to get two-straight fielder's choices to work out of the jam.

Todd's third-inning single extended her reached base safely streak to 17 consecutive games, which tied a career high and is now tied for the 15th longest streak in program history.

South tried working some two-out magic in its half of the fourth as the Jags put together three-straight singles from Vicknair, Gruich and Harris, but Charleston again was able to get out of it as she got Todd to ground out to short to end the frame.

The Bobcats threatened break the scoreless tie in the top of the fifth as they placed runners at the corners with one out after a leadoff walk to Davis and a single through the right side of the Jaguar infield by Bailee Carter. The South Alabama defense though came up big as South Alabama third baseman Savanna Mayo threw Davis out at the plate on a chopper off the bat of Molenaar. Vicknair then helped herself out as she induced a foul out to first by McDowell to end the inning.

In the pivotal seventh, Davis lined a single to left to begin the inning and moved up to second on a single by Kennedy Cline. Molenaar then walked with one out to load the bases bringing McDowell to the plate. The Bobcat centerfielder then singled off the glove a diving Kristian Foster at short, plating Davis.

South Alabama tried to answer back as it put both the tying and game-winning runners aboard with two outs. Harris reached with a lead-off single to left and then moved into scoring position on Todd's sacrifice bunt. The Jag right fielder then moved close on Nichol's groundout to short, bringing the winning run to the plate in Foster. Foster walked on four-straight pitches to put runners at the corners, but R. Rupp was able to get the out she needed as she got Minahan swinging to end the contest – her 16th strikeout of the doubleheader.