Doubleheader Sweep for Softball over Eastern Illinois

Softball Robert Carnes/Sports Communications

Doubleheader Sweep for Softball over Eastern Illinois

PANTHERSVILLE, Ga. — Georgia State (14-8) earned a doubleheader sweep over Eastern Illinois (4-6) in a pair of one-run ball games at the Robert E. Heck Softball Complex Thursday night.

Taylor Anderson and Taylor Scarpantonio both hit the first home runs of their college careers during the doubleheader.

Game 1: GSU 6, EIU 5 (10 innings)

Whitney Phillips stole home plate in the bottom of the tenth inning to win the game in walk-off fashion. Georgia State is now 2-2 in extra inning games this season.

Phillips was pinch running for Brenna Morrissey who started the inning with a stand-up double. Anderson followed with a single to move Phillips to third. After Anderson stole second, the Panthers attempted a squeeze bunt. When the bunt missed, Phillips was caught off the base, but broke for home and beat the throw to the plate.

The host Panthers tied a school record with six stolen bases in a single game, including the winning base swipe. GSU also stole bases against Furman on April 6, 2011. GSU is now 41 for 46 in stolen base attempts this season.

Morrissey had two hits and two RBI to lead the Panthers. Anderson scored a pair of runs and registered two hits, including her first home run.

Georgia State was outhit 11-8 in the contest, but Eastern Illinois committed three costly errors. Both teams stranded 11 base runners in the contest.

Katie Worley (6-4) earned the win for Georgia State in relief of starter Kaitlyn Medlam. Both pitchers threw 5.0 innings for GSU and combined to strike out seven EIU batters.

The marathon contest lasted three hours and 15 minutes, by far the longest of the season thus far.

Eastern Illinois shortstop Bailey O'Dell had two home runs for the visiting Panthers. The EIU second baseman Calry Willert had three hits and two RBI.

Game 2: GSU 4, EIU 3

Scarpantonio had two RBI on two hits, including her first career homer, as Georgia State took the second game from Eastern Illinois 4-3.

The Panthers scored two runs in the second inning and two more in the fourth to outlast EIU. Georgia State was once again outhit 7-6, but made the most of six hits and four walks.

Scarpantonio had an RBI single to score Ashley Christy in the second inning and hit a solo home run in the fourth. Anderson also had an RBI single to plate Phillips in the fourth.

Eron Milton started the first game of her Georgia State career. The sophomore lasted 5.1 innings before allowing a three-run home run in the sixth inning. Worley pitched 1.2 innings in relief to pick up the first save of the season for GSU.

The Panthers are back in action on March 19 in the rescheduled game vs. Jacksonville State at the Heck Softball Complex.

www.GeorgiaStateSports.com
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