ATLANTA -- The Georgia State softball team hit three homers in a doubleheader sweep of UNC Wilmington, 3-0 and 4-1, on Saturday at Bob Heck Field in the CAA home opener for the Panthers.
Maddy Stanton hit a three-run homer in game one to pace the Panthers, while Brenna Morrissey and Paige Nowacki clubbed one each in game two. Alana Thomas and McCall Langford picked up victories, while Erin Collins and Kaitlyn Medlam picked up their sixth and third saves of the season, respectively. Collins is currently the CAA leader in saves and sits in the top five in the country.
GSU (18-16, 4-1 CAA) moved above .500 for the first time since they were 5-4 on Feb. 20. The Seahawks (8-27, 1-4 CAA) and Panthers will close out the series on Sunday at noon.
GAME ONE - Georgia State 3, UNC Wilmington 0
Behind a three-run homer from Stanton, the Georgia State softball team earned a 3-0 victory over UNC Wilmington in game one.
The Panthers jumped on top in the fourth on Stanton's three-run homer to left field. It was her second of the year. Nowacki singled and Whitney Phillips was hit by a pitch to set the stage for GSU's freshman catcher.
That was all Thomas (4-6) needed as she went 6.1 innings, allowing four hits and five walks while striking out four to pick up her fourth win of the season. Collins entered and disposed of the final two UNCW batters to earn her CAA-leading fifth save of the season. Thomas forced eight groundouts and six flyouts to go along with her four K's.
GAME TWO - Georgia State 4, UNC Wilmington 1
Homers by Nowacki and Morrissey powered the Panthers to a game two victory over the Seahawks, 4-1.
Already up 1-0 after Nowacki notched an RBI on a groundout that scored Jessica Clifton, the Panthers added to their lead as Morrissey rocked a two-run homer down the left field line to make the score 3-0. The homer was the first of Morrissey's GSU career.
A Nowacki solo homer cushioned the GSU lead to 4-0, giving the McDonough, Ga., two on the week and three overall this season.
Pacing the Panthers in the circle was Langford, who went six strong innings, giving up one run on four hits. Medlam picked up her third save of the season, throwing a one-hit seventh inning. Langford forced 11 groundouts and four flyouts to go along with her three strikeouts.
GSU's 1-4 hitters all notched a hit with Morrissey and Nowacki both driving in two runs. Junior Megan Kallatsa notched two hits in the eight hole.
The Seahawks picked up their lone run on a solo homer by Ashley Shingleton in the second inning.
