MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – After falling to Fordham 5-1 in eight innings, the Georgia State softball team defeated Coastal Carolina 3-1 in the second game on day 2 of the Chanticleer Showdown in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The win snapped the Panthers six-game losing streak and the team is now 12-12 this season. Callie Alford led the way for GSU, going 5-for-7 with one double, one triple and one RBI.
Game 1
Georgia State was defeated by Fordham 5-1 in eight innings in the first game of the day on Saturday, March 15. Catcher Callie Alford led the way for the Panthers going 3-for-4 while right fielder Megan Litumbe finished with two hits and one RBI.
GSU retired the side three up and three down in the top of the first. In the bottom of the frame, shortstop Taylor Anderson reached safely with a leadoff single. After a pop-up and a line out, Anderson advanced to second on a wild pitch. Litumbe then singled to center to plate Anderson and give the Panthers a 1-0 lead after one inning.
Fordham loaded the bases in the top of the second on two singles and a walk. However, Georgia State starter Kaitlyn Medlam escaped the jam by forcing a pop-up and a line out to end the Rams' half of the inning. In the bottom of the frame, center fielder Ashley Christy reached first on a one-out bunt single and advanced to second on a groundout. Christy advanced to third when Anderson reached on an error by the Fordham second baseman but both runners were stranded when groundout ended the inning.
In the top of the third, Fordham center fielder Sydney Canessa reached with a leadoff walk. She advanced to third on a GSU throwing error and scored on shortstop Elise Fortier's sacrifice fly to right. After a Ram was caught stealing, third baseman Kayla Lombardo doubled to left but was stranded at second when catcher Gabby Luety flied out to center. GSU catcher Alford hit a two-out double to right in the bottom of the frame but was left stranded. The Panthers and Rams were tied 1-1 after three complete.
Neither team scored in the fourth of the fifth inning. Medlam retired the Fordham side in order in the top of the sixth. Litumbe led off with a single in the bottom of the frame. Jessica Clifton then subbed to run for Litumbe but was doubled up on Alford's line out to third. A strikeout ended the inning and the Panthers and Rams prepared for the seventh still tied 1-1.
Georgia State retired the Rams in order in the top of the seventh. In the bottom of the inning, Christy reached with a bunt single and advanced to second on Anderson's two-out walk, but both Panthers were stranded when a groundout ended the inning with the score tied 1-1.
In the top of the eighth, Cora Ianiro was placed at second and scored on Canessa's leadoff single to left to give Fordham a 2-1 lead. After a pop fly, Fortier doubled to right center to score Canessa and extend the Rams lead to 3-1. Fordham capped the inning with a two-run homer to center by Lombardo to make it a 5-1 game heading into the bottom of the eighth.
Mallory Koepke was placed at second for GSU in the bottom of the eighth. After a line out and a groundout, Alford hit a two-out single to left to put Panthers on the corners, but a ground out to third ended game and gave Fordham the 5-1 victory.
Georgia State starter Kaitlyn Medlam gets the loss and falls to 7-6. She pitched 7.1 innings and allowed four runs on seven hits. Lauren Quense earned the win for Fordham. She pitched all eight innings and allowed one run on eight hits.
Game 2
In the second game of the day, Georgia State defeated Coastal Carolina 3-1 behind a two-run home run by shortstop Taylor Anderson and RBI triple by catcher Callie Alford.
Anderson led off the top of the first with a double to left center. GSU then loaded the bases with two outs when first baseman Lauren Coleman was hit by a pitch and Alford walked. However, Chanticleer starter Ashley Bagwell forced a strikeout to end the threat. The Panthers retired Coastal Carolina three up and three down in the bottom of the first.
In the top of the second, left fielder Jessica Clifton reached first with a one-out walk. After a strikeout, Anderson hit a two-run homer to right center to give Georgia State a 2-0 lead. Coastal Carolina opened the bottom of the second with two singles, but GSU starter Eron Milton forced two groundouts and a strikeout to protect the Panthers 2-0 lead after two innings.
Neither team scored in third inning. In the top of the fourth, Clifton reached with a one-out walk and advanced to second on center fielder Ashley Christy's single to left. However, both Panthers were stranded when a strikeout and groundout ended the threat. Coastal Carolina catcher Morgan Noad hit a solo home run to center in the bottom of the frame to cut the GSU lead to 2-1 after four complete.
Coleman singled to center to open the fifth but was thrown out when right fielder Megan Litumbe reached on a fielder's choice. Alford singled to advance Litumbe to second but a pop fly and a strikeout ended the top half of the frame. Chanticleer right fielder Bri Chiusano reached with a two-out single to left center in the bottom of the fifth but was stranded and GSU took a 2-1 lead into the sixth inning.
After a scoreless sixth, Taylor Thorpe led of the seventh with a pinch-hit single to left. Mallory Koepke subbed to run for Thorpe but she was doubled up when Coleman lined out to shortstop. Litumbe then walked and scored on Alford's triple to right field to give GSU a 3-1 lead heading into the final half-inning.
In the bottom of the seventh, Georgia State relief pitcher Kaitlyn Medlam struck out the side to secure the 3-1 win for the Panthers.
GSU starter Eron Milton improves to 2-1 with the win. She pitched five innings and allowed one run on eight hits. Kaitlyn Medlam earned her first save of the season. She pitched two perfect innings in relief and recorded five strikeouts.
Georgia State will return to the field at 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 16 to take on the College of Charleston in the final game of the Chanticleer Showdown in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
