MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Georgia State softball team fell to Minnesota 7-0 and Coastal Carolina 2-0 on Friday, March 14 on the first day of the Chanticleer Showdown in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Panthers falls to 11-11 overall this season.
Game 1
Georgia State fell to No. 18/21 Minnesota 7-0 in the first game of the day on Friday, March 14 in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Golden Gopher starter Sara Moulton earned the win after pitching six shutout innings and allowing only one hit.
After a scoreless first, Minnesota grabbed a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Catcher Taylor LeMay reached with a leadoff walk and advanced to second right fielder Sam Macken's single. Both runners advanced to third on a groundout and scored on shortstop Tyler Walker's two-RBI double. Second baseman Erica Meyer then doubled to left center to plate Walker and give the Golden Gophers a 3-0 lead after two complete.
Georgia State was retired in order in the top of the third. In the bottom of the frame, Minnesota's first baseman Sara Groenewegen hit a leadoff triple. Kelsey Klucas subbed to run for Groenewegen and scored on a single by centerfielder Bree Blanchette. GSU relief pitcher Eron Milton then forced LeMay to hit into a double play before recording a strikeout to end the inning.
Both teams were held scoreless in the fourth frame. Minnesota scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth to increase its lead to 6-0. The Golden Gophers opened the inning with a pop-up before drawing two walks to put runners on first and second. After a popfly and a wild pitch, Minnesota had runners at second and third with two outs. After LeMay singled to drive in one run, Katie Worley replaced Milton in the circle for GSU. Pinch hitter Madie Eckstrom then drove in a run for the Golden Gophers with a single to center before a ground out ended the threat.
In the top of the sixth, Ashley Christy singled to right to break-up Moulton's no-hitter. Christy advanced to second on a ground out but was stranded when a strikeout ended the inning. The Golden Gophers added one more run the in the bottom of the sixth to make it a 7-0 game on third baseman Kaitlyn Richardson's double to right.
Georgia State was retired in order in the top of the seventh by Minnesota relief pitcher Nikki Anderson to clinch the 7-0 win.
GSU starter Taylor Thorpe falls to 3-4 after the loss. She pitched 1.2 innings and allowed three runs on three hits. Eron Milton pitched 3.0 innings in relief and Katie Worley pitched the final 1.1 innings. Moulton earned the win for Minnesota and improves to 12-2 this season.
Game 2
Georgia State fell to Coastal Carolina 2-0 behind a complete game shutout by Chanticleer starting pitcher Kiana Quolas in the second game of the day on Friday, March 14. The Chanticleers improve to 17-6 overall this season.
Coastal Carolina grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Right fielder Bri Chiusano walked to begin the inning and advanced to second on starting pitcher Quolas' sacrifice bunt. Chiusano then stole third and scored on a throwing error by GSU catcher Taylor Scarpantonio.
Both teams were held scoreless in the second inning. In the top of the third, third baseman Callie Alford opened the inning with a single to center for Georgia State. She advanced to second on left fielder Jessica Clifton's sacrifice bunt and reached third on a ground out. However, she was stranded there when a strikeout ended the threat. In the bottom of the frame, the Chanticleers hit two singles but could not extend their lead.
GSU loaded the bases behind three straight one-out singles by Taylor Anderson, Lauren Coleman and Megan Litumbe in the top of the fourth. However, the Panthers were unable to do any damage as Coastal Carolina's Quolas escaped the jam with a strikeout and ground out. The Chanticleers extended their lead to 2-0 after four complete when shortstop Jessie Winans scored on center field Brook Donovan's double to right center in the bottom of the inning.
In the top of the fifth, Scarpantonio reached on fielder's choice and advanced to second on a ground out. Then center fielder Ashley Christy singled but Scarpantonio was thrown out at home trying to score. Coastal Carolina stranded a runner at third in the bottom of the frame and still led 2-0 after five innings.
Anderson and Coleman led off the top of the sixth with two walks to put Panthers on first and second. However, Quolas struck out the next two batters and forced a ground out to end the threat and protect the Chanticleers' 2-0 lead. After a leadoff single, Georgia State relief pitcher Eron Milton forced a ground out to end the sixth inning.
In the top of the seventh, pinch hitter Taylor Thorpe reached safely with a one-out single. Morgan Brown subbed to run for Thorpe and advanced to second when Mallory Koepke reached on a walk. However, both runners were stranded when a strikeout and ground out ended the game 2-0 in favor of Coastal Carolina.
Georgia State starter Kaitlyn Medlam falls to 7-5 after the loss. She pitched five innings and allowed two runs on five hits. Quolas earned the win for the Chanticleers and improves to 11-3 overall. She pitched a complete game shutout and allowed six hits.
The Panthers will return to the field tomorrow to face Fordham at 12 p.m. and Coastal Carolina at 6:30 p.m. in the second day of the Chanticleer Showdown.
