Record Tying Home Run Lifts Softball Over KSU, 1-0

Softball Robert Carnes/Sports Communications

Winning Streak at Six Games After Two Wins in Florida

CLEARWATER, Fla. — With two wins on Saturday, the Georgia State softball team extends its winning streak to six games. The Panthers (12-7) earned victories over Kent State and Stephen F. Austin during the second day of the USF Under Armour Invitational.

Game 1: GSU 9, Kent State 3

Callie Alford and Paige Nowacki both hit two-run home runs as Georgia State bested Kent State 9-3 to open the day.

Nowacki slugged her eighth home run of the season in the top of the third inning. That homer gives the senior 28 on her career, four away from the school record of 32. Alford's home run came in the fifth inning, her fifth of the season and second of the tournament.

Jessica Clifton also had two RBI after a bases loaded single in the top of the second. Clifton had two hits in the contest, as did Whitney Phillips with two bunt singles.

GSU scored three runs in the sixth inning, two in both the first and third and one in both the second and seventh. Eight hits and eight walks gave the Panthers plenty of base runners to work with.

With a triple in the sixth inning, Taylor Anderson reached a 16-game hitting streak, only three away from the school record of 19 games.

Katie Worley (5-3) pitched 5.0 innings, allowing two runs on five hits. Eron Milton worked two innings in relief, allowing a run in the seventh inning. Both GSU hurlers struck out three Kent State batters.

Game 2: GSU 3, Stephen F Austin 2 (8 Innings)

Kaitlyn Medlam carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning before surrendering a bloop double. However, the Panthers would hold on to win their first extra-inning contest of the season.

Medlam set down the first 13 SFA batters in order before an error permitted the first Lumberjack baserunner in the fifth inning.

After four scoreless frames, Georgia State finally broke through with a run in the top of the fifth with consecutive singles by Audrey Mason and Ashley Christy. Christy also stole her ninth base of the year.

Stephen F. Austin (5-12) tied the game at 1-1 in the sixth after the double and a Panther error.

GSU scored two in the top of the eighth inning on an Anderson sacrifice squeeze bunt and a Brenna Morrissey RBI single. The Lumberjacks could only manage one run in their half of the eighth.

Anderson saw her 16-game hitting game snapped in the contest. The freshman's hitting streak ends as the second longest in program history.

Georgia State concludes the USF Under Armour Invitational with a game against St. Joseph's on Sunday at 11:00 a.m.

www.GeorgiaStateSports.com
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