Macon, Ga. -- Georgia State senior Tiffany Bess hit a three-run homer in the third inning of game two to propel the Panthers to a 3-2 victory and a doubleheader split with the Mercer Bears Tuesday at Sikes Field. Mercer claimed game one, 8-2, behind a four-RBI game from Kassie Bailey.
The home run was the Watkinsville, Ga., native's third of the season and second in a week.
McCall Langford (11-8) picked up the win in game two, while Kaitlyn Medlam moved into the top 20 in the nation in saves with her fourth.
The Panthers head to Harrisonburg, Va., to battle the James Madison Dukes in a weekend series beginning on Friday. Game one is set for 5 p.m., with game two to follow immediately afterwards. A noon game on Saturday will close out the series.
GAME TWO - Georgia State 3, Mercer 2
Bess took a 2-2 pitch over the left field wall to give GSU a 3-0 lead, a lead the Panthers held throughout in a 3-2 victory in game two.
After Brenna Morrissey and Audrey Mason got on base with a single and walk, respectively, Bess stepped up and slammed the game-winning homer, her third of the season.
GSU's 2-6 hitters all had one hit each and Whitney Phillips had a pair of hits to pace the Panthers.
Langford (11-8) picked up the win after going five innings and allowing two runs on eight hits. Medlam earned the save as she allowed just two hits in two innings of work.
Mercer inched closer in the fourth with a pair of runs. Allison Jones hit a sac fly that pushed across Tiffany Phillips, and pinch hitter Kristin Marko smacked a single up the middle to plate Sara Stukes. However, a pop up ended the threat.
Two key defensive plays by catcher Maddy Stanton helped GSU's cause later in the game. In the fifth, Stanton threw out Stephanie Canara at second trying to steal, and in the seventh, she picked off McKenzie Woody off first base as she took too big of a jump after a pitch. Earlier in the game, Woody was tagged out trying to steal home with two outs.
GAME ONE - Mercer 8, Georgia State 2
Mercer took advantage of several Panther miscues and Bailey notched four RBI as the Bears claimed game one, 8-2.
A pair of errors in the first by second baseman Phillips helped leadoff hitter McKenzie Woody get on and score to give Mercer the early 1-0 lead.
Three singles, a walk and an error by shortstop Paige Nowacki allowed the Bears to score four runs in the third inning to push their lead to 5-1.
Bailey's double to left center in the fourth extended the lead to 7-1, and another Bailey single in the sixth provided the final margin.
Starting pitcher Alana Thomas (6-7) allowed only two balls to leave the infield but still had a short outing, going 3.1 innings and allowing six hits and seven runs (two earned). Kaitlyn Medlam closed out the game in relief, going 2.2 innings, allowing three hits and one run.
Three errors by the GSU defense allowed five unearned runs to cross the plate.
Bailey paced the Bears with a 3-for-4 day with four RBI and a run scored.
Morrissey, Nowacki, Emily Whitaker and Phillips each had one hit for GSU, while Stanton had two walks.
GSU had several opportunities to push runners across the plate. In the first, Morrissey walked and stole two bases and Nowacki was intentionally walked to put runners at the corners. However, a strike out by Mason ended the threat.
The Panthers got their first run in the second. After Emily Whitaker reached on an error, she advanced to second on a sac bunt by Stanton and to third on a stolen base. After stealing third she was able to sneak home on a bad throw by catcher Sarah Santana.
GSU loaded the bases in the sixth on singles by Nowacki and Whitaker and a walk by Stanton. Phillips slapped a single to the shortstop that she beat out and allowed Nowacki to come home to cut the lead to 7-2. However, that would be GSU's last scoring opportunity of the game.
