The Georgia State softball team (21-6, 2-0 CAA) swept its first two Colonial Athletic Association games of the season when they defeated Delaware (10-9, 0-2 CAA) 7-0 and 8-6 (10 inn.), in Newark, Del. Freshman pitcher Alicia Mills threw the first game shut-out, fanning ten batters, improving her record to 9-3.
Senior infielder Jessica Gowin completed the day 6-for-9 with one run scored, and two RBIs. Junior outfielder Natasha Berry went 4-for-6 on the day with a double, four runs scored and two RBI.
In the first game, State jumped to an early lead in the second inning when senior Holly Willis legged out a bunt single, scoring Lauren Jones from third, who had reached earlier on an error. At the top of the sixth, with the score 3-0, the Panthers put another three runs on the board when State strung together four singles from Lauren Jones, Holly Willis, Danielle Roddy and Berry.
The shut-out was Mills' fifth of the season, the right hand hurler allowed only three hits and one walk in seven innings.
In the second game, the Blue Hens immediately put three runs across in the first inning. The Panthers took back one in the second when they loaded the bases to have Mills draw a RBI walk. State kept battling as they took the lead in the top of the fourth when Roddy and Berry connected with back-to-back doubles, putting the Panthers on top 4-3. The Blue Hens tied it up in the bottom of the fifth when Kim Ovittore hit a single to left field, scoring Quinn Megargel from second.
After three scoreless innings, State rallied to put a run on the board as catcher Catherine Lee reached and advanced to second on an error by the centerfielder. With one out and two on, sophomore Rachel Cunningham singled to left field, scoring Lee from second, putting the Panthers on top 5-4. The Blue Hens bounced back in the bottom of ninth to tie it up again at five a piece.
In the top of the tenth, Willis reached on a throwing error by the third basemen. Roddy then beat-out a bunt single to third, putting runners on first and second. Berry loaded the bases when she reached on a fielding error by the first basemen. With Lee up to bat, Willis scored on a wild pitch, leaving runners at first and second. Lee singled to right field, with an error by the right fielder, both Roddy and Berry scored, bringing the score to 8-5. The Panthers were able to hold Delaware, securing the win at 8-6.
Senior Ashley Cowan garnered the win for State in the second game, keeping Delaware scoreless for six total innings, improving her record to 4-1.
The Panthers continue CAA play tomorrow as they finish the series with a single game against Delaware at 12 p.m. Saturday, March 22 in Newark, Del.
