ATLANTA -- The Georgia State softball team scored seven runs in the first inning and didn't look back as the Panthers completed the series sweep against the Delaware Blue Hens, 10-1. Tiffany Bess homered and drove in four runs for GSU, and freshman Kaitlyn Medlam picked up her ninth win of the season.
The Panthers (27-17, 11-1 CAA) are off to their best start in their six years in the CAA and are currently tied for first with Hofstra in the race to host the CAA Tournament. GSU has won 18 of its last 22 games and has run-ruled its opponent in five of the last eight games. The Panthers outscored Delaware 30-2 on the weekend. The Blue Hens fall to 14-28 (4-8 CAA).
After the Blue Hens jumped on the Panther with a solo homer by Lara Andrews in the top of the first, GSU wasted no time turning a 1-0 deficit into a 7-1 lead. Freshman Jessica Clifton led off with a double that smacked off the left field fence. Brenna Morrissey reached base on a poor throw by third baseman Michelle Grap and Clifton made it all the way home to tie the game. After one out, Paige Nowacki singled to advance the runner, and Audrey Mason smacked a single that brought Morrissey home. Bess hit a double off the center field fence that scored Nowacki and Mason, and Maddy Stanton walked to force the Blue Hens to remove starter Hannah Rust (0-7) after only a third of an inning. Whitney Phillips singled to load the bases for Megan Kallatsa, who pushed a single to left field, bringing home Bess. Batting for the second time in the inning, Clifton produced out number two before Morrissey walked to keep the bases loaded and bring home Stanton from third. Lauren Jones hit a single to the shortstop that scored Phillips and provided the Panthers with a 7-1 lead.
GSU added an insurance run in the second as leadoff hitter Audrey Mason smacked a 1-1 pitch over the left center field fence to push the lead to 8-1.
Bess provided the final runs to allow the game to end after five innings with a two-run bomb down the left field line that brought home Nowacki.
The Panthers are hitting .320 in CAA play as a team with 17 homers. They are averaging over eight hits a game.
Medlam (9-1) picked up the win for GSU, going four innings and allowing a homer and three hits. The Bethlehem, Ga., native walked none and struck out four. Erin Collins closed out the final inning, giving up a pair of hits. The GSU pitching staff now sports a 0.62 ERA in CAA games and has only given up seven earned runs in 12 contests.
Leading the way for GSU at the plate were four hitters with two hits each. Nowacki went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while Mason was 2-for-2 with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored. Bess had a homer, double, four RBI and two runs scored. Phillips also 2-for-2 with a run scored.
GSU hits the road on Tuesday for its final non-conference series of the season against Mercer. The doubleheader begins at 4 p.m. and can be followed via live stats or GSU's live blog.
