Panthersville, Ga.? Catherine Lee hit a grand slam and drove in five runs and Rachel Cunningham added a three-run homer to help Georgia State to a 12-4 victory over Mercer in the second game of a doubleheader Tuesday at Bob Heck Field. Mercer won the first game, 6-5, in eight innings.

Lee, a freshman from Covington, Ga., belted a 1-0 pitch over the right centerfield fence to put the Panthers (19-6) ahead, 10-0, in the bottom of the fourth. The blast was her ninth homer of the season. Cunningham's homer was her second of the season and staked State to a 6-0 lead after three innings.

Madi Gore pitched the complete-game victory to improve to 7-2 on the season.

In game one, Stacey Condra pushed across the winning run for the Bears (16-8) in the eighth inning with an infield out that scored Jamie Madruga from third base.

Lacey Richardson (7-4) pitched the final two innings to earn the win for Mercer. She then started the nightcap but lasted just 2-1/3 innings, allowing five runs to take the loss.

Natasha Berry and Jessica Gowin homered in game one for the Panthers, who rallied to tie the score in the bottom of the seventh on Lee's RBI single. State had runners at first and second in the bottom of the eighth but had the potential tying run thrown out at third base on a fielder's choice on a very close play that ended the game.

State's Alicia Mills (8-3) took the complete-game loss despite striking out nine. She allowed six runs but only two were earned.

The Panthers are off until hosting Georgia next Wednesday, Mar. 19 in a 4 p.m. doubleheader at Bob Heck Field.

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