ATLANTA, Ga. -- No. 8 Georgia Tech scored five runs in the first and held off a Georgia State rally to defeat the Panthers, 7-3.
The first inning has been the Panthers achilles heel all season (outscored 24-14 in the first, other innings outscored opponent 84-26), and tonight was no exception as the Yellow Jackets scored five runs in the first as two walks, two hits, a passed ball, a hit batter and a three-run homer gave Tech the early lead. Starting pitcher Alana Thomas couldn't force an out and was replaced by junior Heather Lowry, who allowed a Jessica Sinclair three-run homer to center field before retiring the last Tech batter of the inning.
The Panthers settled down after the first inning as Lowry pitched four straight innings without allowing another run.
GSU began to rally in the middle innings as it scored a run each in the third, fourth and fifth innings.
With the bases loaded in the third, freshman Paige Nowacki singled, scoring fellow freshman Audrey Mason. Junior Lauren Jones was thrown out at home plate on Nowacki's single and Rachel Cunningham flied out to right field to end the threat.
In the fourth, Mason made it to first safely on a fielder's choice, scoring pinch runner Lauren Fetters. Again the Panthers found themselves with the bases loaded and again GSU could not cross more than a single run across the plate.
The fifth proved to be Georgia State's best and last chance to even the score as for the third time in the game the Panthers forced the Yellow Jackets into a bases loaded situation, this time with no outs.
However, after Nowacki was walked home by pitcher Kristen Adkins, the inning ended with three straight outs. GSU left 11 runners on base during the game.
A run each in the sixth and seventh extended Georgia Tech's lead and proved insurmountable for the Panthers.
Leading the way for the Yellow Jackets was Sinclair, who had the first inning three-run homer. Adkins (5-0) added two RBI along with her four innings of service in the circle. In a losing effort, Mason was 2-for-4 with an RBI while Nowacki and Roles also added RBI. Lowry pitched 5.2 innings allowing two runs on four hits, while striking out three. Thomas (3-2) allowed four runs while walking two batters before being relieved by Lowry.
The No. 8-ranked Yellow Jackets improve to 19-2, while the Panthers slip to 12-6.
The Panthers return to action on Saturday when they face off against Mercer and Fordham in the Springhill Suites Buckhead Classic, hosted by Georgia Tech. GSU will have another opportunity on Sunday to upset Tech as it meets them in day two of the tournament.
