ATLANTA - On a brisk and windy day, the Georgia State softball team was defeated by Mississippi State 16-9 Wednesday, March 12 at Bob Heck Field. Taylor Anderson, Lauren Coleman and Mallory Koepke all homered in the game for the Panthers, but it was not enough to get past the Bulldogs.
After a scoreless first and second inning, Mississippi State opened the scoring in the top of the third when Sam Lenahan scored after reaching on an error by GSU starter Kaitlyn Medlam. Then Jessica Offutt walked, Heidi Shape reached on an error and Caroline Seitz walked to load the bases. Katie Anne Bailey then hit a grand slam to left center give the Bulldogs a 5-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third, Koepke opened the inning with a single and advanced to second when Ashley Christy was hit by a pitch from MSU starter Alexis Silkwood. Morgan Brown then singled up the middle to load the bases. Anderson then cleared the bases with a bomb to left center to cut the Bulldogs' lead to 6-4. MeQuilla Franklin singled then Coleman hit a two-run home run to dead center to give the Panthers a 6-5 lead after three complete.
Mississippi State scored two in the top of the fourth to retake the lead 7-6. Logan Foulks started the inning with a single through the left side. After a strikeout, Bulldog relief pitcher Alison Owen doubled to put runners on the corners. Then, Offutt singled up the middle to plate Foulks before Owen scored on Shape's double to left. A strikeout and ground out ended the threat.
After retiring GSU three up and three down in the bottom of the fourth, MSU extended its lead to 9-6 with two runs in the top of the fifth. Bailey walked and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Foulks then singled to center to plate Bailey. Ashley Phillips subbed to pinch run for Foulks and scored on Offutt's single to right.
In the bottom of the fifth, Anderson led off with a double to right center. She advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Coleman's single to right to make it a 9-7 game in favor of Mississippi State. The Bulldogs scored five runs in the top of the sixth on three singles and a double to extend their lead to 14-7. Then, Koepke hit her first career home run in the bottom of the sixth to make it a 14-8 game after sixth complete.
Seitz hit a two-run homer in the top of the seventh to extend the Bulldogs' lead to 16-8. In the bottom of the frame, Mandy Blackwell doubled to start the inning. Franklin subbed to run for Blackwell and scored on Coleman's double to left. However, MSU's Owen forced a ground out and recorded a strikeout to end the inning and clinch the 14-9 win.
Eron Milton falls to 1-1 after the loss. She pitched 1.1 innings and allowed four runs on five hits. GSU starter Kaitlyn Medlam pitched 3.0 innings and allowed five runs, all unearned, on one hit. Alison Owen earned the win for Mississippi State and improves to 10-4 this season.
The Panthers will return to action on Friday, March 14 at 11 a.m. against Minnesota in Myrtle Beach, S.C. as part of the Chanticleer Showdown. GSU will also play host Coastal Carolina at 1 p.m. on Friday.
