AUDIO INTERVIEWS
Sophomore Cassie Boese
Senior Rachel Cunningham
ATLANTA, Ga. -- Georgia State sophomore pitcher Alana Thomas pitched five shut-out innings as the Panthers defeated Drexel, 3-0, in game one of the three-game series.
Thomas (6-2) scattered four hits over her five innings of work. She struck out two, while walking only two. The Athens, Ga., native was helped by some solid defense from the infield and outfielder Tiffany Bess, who made a diving grab to end the third inning. The Panthers' infield turned two double plays on the day to up their season total to 22, to keep them among the nation's leaders. McCall Langford (3) picked up the save, going the final two innings allowing only a single hit and one walk.
The Panthers opened up the scoring in the third inning, putting two runs across the plate to take a 2-0 lead. After a Cssie Boese single, freshman Audrey Mason doubled to right field, advancing Boese to third. After a Lily Skelton walk, Rachel Cunningham singled, scoring Boese. A Rebecca Roles single scored Mason to end the inning.
GSU picked up an insurance run in the sixth after Danielle Roddy hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score pinch runner Carrie Williams.
Leading the way for the Panthers was Boese, who had a pair of hits. Roddy, Cunningham and Roles all picked up RBI, while Mason had a double, her fifth on the season.
Allen (4-3) suffered the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits.
The Panthers (22-11, 3-1 CAA) conclude the series against the Dragons (8-11, 1-3 CAA) in a doubleheader tomorrow beginning at 12 p.m.
