Woodstock, Ga. (March 6, 2009) The Georgia State University softball team opened play in the three-day Buzz Classic today and dropped a 5-0 decision to Western Kentucky and a 9-6 verdict to Indiana State.
The Panthers got two hits from Rebecca Roles in the opening 4 p.m. game and short stop Rachel Cunningham also knocked two hits in the 6 p.m. game. Catcher Catherine Lee knocked a home run over the left field fence against the Sycamores from Indiana State.
Pitcher Madi Gore (3-4) started game one with Chesley Morgan coming in for the final inning of relief work for Coach Heck's squad. Freshman Erin Collins (2-1) made her first collegiate start in game two with Alana Thomas and Chelsey Morgan each making an appearance.
In game one, Georgia State banged out four hits in game one, but the Hilltoppers from the Sun Belt collected nine hits and scored its five runs, including three in the final at bat.
The Lady Toppers got on the board early in the second inning. The first was scored by Sam Cronk off of a Panther throwing error. The second run came when catcher Rachelle Boucher scored off of an error by Panthers catcher, Catherine Lee.
Georgia State was unable to put runs on the board and Western Kentucky continued on their streak, adding three runs in the sixth inning.
WKU (10-3) earned its fourth shut out from ace pitcher Ryan Rogge (8-1 on the season) on the beautiful 70-degree day at Twin Creeks Softball Complex.
In game two against Indiana State, the Panthers started out aggressive as sophomore Lee hit a home run in the first inning. Georgia State kept the momentum going in the third inning when Cunningham hit a double to right field, allowing pinch runner Lauren Fetters and centerfielder Holly Willis to cross the plate.
State led several times, but dropped a 9-6 verdict to the Indiana Sycamores (4-2) from the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) in the 6 p.m. game tonight. The Panthers bats were active as freshman Megan Kallatsa had three RBIs, team leader Rachel Cunningham upped her season RBI total to 13 with two more, and Catherine Lee belted her second home run of the season. State held its last lead at 6-5 through five innings, but Indiana State rallied for its final four runs and the win.
The Panthers (now 6-8) will face Bowling Green from the Mid-American (MAC) Saturday at 11 a.m. and Howard from the MEAC at 1 p.m. with a fifth game on Sunday's final day. There are 18 teams from around the country competing in this round-robin format.
