Kennesaw, Ga. -- Senior leftfielder Tiffany Bess drove in four runs to help lead the Georgia State softball team to a 7-3 victory over Miami (Ohio) Sunday afternoon in the final game of the Buzz Classic.
Six GSU batters produced two hits as the Panthers totaled 14 on the day. It was the most for the Panthers since March 27 of last year when GSU put up 16 against UNC Wilmington.
The three through seven hitters in the GSU lineup all notched a pair of hits. Whitney Phillips, Lauren Jones, Paige Nowacki, Bess and Chelsea Sparks kept the Redhawk pitchers off balance all day. Jones also scored two runs, as did shortstop Brenna Morrissey.
GSU (9-11) sat around for more than a day as weather wreaked havoc on the Buzz Classic. Both games on Saturday were canceled and Sunday's contest was pushed back to 4 p.m. and moved from Woodstock to Kennesaw State's Bailey Park.
If the uncertainty of the weather affected the team, it did not show in the bats as the Panthers got on the board early and often. GSU opened up the game with three runs in the first. A pair of singles by Morrissey and Phillips and a walk by Jones loaded the bases for Bess. The Watkinsville, Ga., native singled through the left side, plating two runs. Slap hitter Sparks put one into left field, scoring Jones to give GSU the early 3-0 lead.
GSU added to its lead in the second, scoring a pair of runs. A fielder's choice by Jessica Clifton and a walk by Morrissey put runners at first and second. A double steal moved the runners over and a passed ball scored Clifton. Morrissey was brought home on a single to right field by Jones to push the lead to 5-0.
Two more runs crossed the plate in the fourth. Jones doubled down the left field line to open the inning and Nowacki singled down the right field line to place runners at the corners. Bess picked up her third and fourth RBI of the contest on a double to centerfield, scoring Jones and Nowacki.
The RedHawks scored a pair of runs in the second on four singles and a bases-loaded walk, which removed starting pitcher Kaitlyn Medlam from the game after only 1.2 innings.
Reliever Erin Collins also lasted 1.2 innings, giving up a run in the fourth on three singles and a groundout before being replaced for McCall Langford (3-5). Langford went 3.2 innings, allowing only a single hit while striking out five batters to pick up the win.
Suffering the loss for the Redhawks was Katie Osburn, who went only 1.1 innings allowing five runs on five hits. Reliever Jessica Simpson finished out the game allowing nine hits and two runs.
The Panthers return to action next weekend when they compete in Georgia Tech's Springhill Suites Buckhead Classic. All games will be played at Tech's home field.
