Softball Falls to Towson at CAA Championship

Softball Russell Dorn/Sports Communications

Softball Falls to Towson at CAA Championship

Hempstead, N.Y. ? Georgia State (37-18) concluded their final game of the 2008 season as they fell to Towson (37-25), 5-4, in the second game of the Colonial Athletic Association Championship Tournament, on Saturday, May 10 at Hofstra.

Senior infielder Jessica Gowin finished the day batting 2-for-4 with two runs batted in and one run scored. Catherine Lee smashed her 17th homer of the season, bringing home two RBI's, tying her with the CAA single-season RBI (63) and runs scored (51) records. Hofstra's Ashley Lane brought home 63 runs in 2006, while Laura Sweeney crossed the plate 51 times in 2006 for Hofstra.

After 55 games, Lee ends the season batting .411, with 69 hits, including 16 doubles, 17 home runs and 51 runs scored. She knocked in 63 runs in 168 at-bats, with a .810 slugging percentage.

Towson jumped on top in the bottom of the second as Aimee Rosa blasted her 11th home run of the season, which breaks Towson's single season record, to put the Tigers ahead to an early 1-0 lead.

In the top of the third, with two outs and a runner on first, Lee belted her 17th homer of the season, giving the Panthers a 2-1 lead. The next batter, Gowin, hit another home run, her sixth of the season, to give State a 3-1 lead.

Stef Streets tied the game at three in the bottom of the fourth when she blasted her fourth homer of the season over the right field fence, after Emily Gould reached on a single to left field.

It was Streets again to rally Towson when she hit a one-out double to the right field fence. She was moved over by teammate xxx, before Lempa pushed a single through the left side to put the Tigers up 4-3 through six innings.

In the top of the seventh with two outs, Natasha Berry and Lee drew back-to-back walks. Gowin stepped up with a single to right field, bringing home Berry from second and tying the game at four a piece.

Towson took the game in the bottom of the seventh after Sammi DiPompo led off the inning with a single to right center. Nina Navarro drew a walk, placing runners on first and second. With two out and two on, Emily Gould brought home the winning run off a single to center field.

Claire Rietmann-Grout tossed the win for Towson, improving her record to 17-7. She hurled a complete seven innings, allowing four runs, three hits and seven walks, while striking out six batters.

Gore took the loss for State, moving her record to 14-8 to end the season. She allowed five runs off ten hits and two walks, while fanning two batters through 6-2/3 innings.

No. 4 seed Towson will take on No. 1 seed Hofstra at 3:30 p.m. to decide who will face James Madison in the Championship game on Sunday, May 11.

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