Panthersville, Ga. ? The Georgia State softball team opened its 2008 campaign with a 4-3 victory over UT Martin in eight innings on Saturday, Feb. 9 at the Georgia State First Pitch Classic in Panthersville.
Against the Skyhawks, the Panthers pounced on the board first, scoring their first run of the season in the second inning. Freshman Catherine Lee led off the top of the second with a hard single to center. Holly Willis grounded out to third, advancing Lee. Rachel Cunningham hit a shot to shortstop, reaching on a fielder's choice when Lee was tagged out between second and third. Lauren Fetters walked, putting Cunningham on second with two outs. Senior Jessica Gowin came through with a hard hit single up the middle scoring Cunningham, giving the Panthers an early lead.
In the top of the third, the Panthers rallied again when freshman Lauren Jones started the inning with a hard-hit single to right field. Lily Skelton walked, moving Jones to second. With two outs, Cunningham came through in the clutch when she singled through the left side, bringing home Jones and putting the Panthers up 2-0.
In the bottom of the inning, UT Martin's Ashley Benbow put the Skyhawks on the board, with a two-out homerun to left field.
The Panthers answered back in the top of the fourth when Lee brought in Rebecca Roles with a two-out double to centerfield.
State held on to their 3-1 lead through the seventh until the Skyhawks put two more runs on the board after back to back singles by Chelsey Cary and Benbow, scoring Megan Williams, who reached on a drop third strike, and Amber Hayes who had singled to right center earlier in the inning.
With the scored tied at three, the Panthers entered into extra innings. Cunningham, the last out of the previous inning, headed to second base to start international tie-breaker. Fetters sacrificed Cunningham to third, putting State in scoring position with one out. Senior Jessica Gowin hit a hard shot to the shortstop, allowing Cunningham to score and giving the Panthers the only run they would need to beat UT Martin.
Senior Ashley Cowan started in the circle for the Panthers, scattering just five hits, walking one and striking out seven.
Danielle Roddy powered the Panther offense, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, while Lauren Jones went 3-for-4 with an RBI. Gowin drove in two runs, including the game-winner, and went 2-for-4 at the plate.
