ATLANTA - In the Panthers first Sun Belt Conference doubleheader, the Georgia State softball team was defeated by No. 20 UL Lafayette 8-3 and 4-2 on Saturday, March 22 at the Robert E. Heck Softball Complex. GSU drops to 13-15 overall this season and 0-2 in conference play. The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns improve to 21-6-1 and 2-0 in the Sun Belt.
Game 1
Georgia State fell to UL Lafayette 8-3 in the Panthers first Sun Belt Conference game of the season. Shortstop Taylor Anderson lead the way for GSU with one run scored and three RBI on one hit.
GSU starter Eron Milton retired the UL-L side in order in the top of the first. In the bottom of the inning, Coleman reached with a two-out single to right but Louisiana Ragin' Cajun starter Christina Hamilton recorded a strikeout to keep the score tied 0-0 after one complete.
After a scoreless second inning, UL-L grabbed the lead in the top of the third. The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns started the inning with a lead-off walk. Then shortstop Corin Voinche's single to left and the runners advanced to second and third on a GSU error. Second baseman Natalie Fernandez singled to load the bases and then UL Lafayette grabbed a 1-0 lead on center fielder Haley Hayden' s single. The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns extended their lead to 3-0 after scoring two runs on a wild pitch and passed ball. UL-L plated one more run when left fielder Shelbi Redfearn hit into a double play. The Panthers stranded a runner at second in the bottom of the frame and UL Lafayette led 4-0 after three innings.
The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns scored three more runs on three hits in the top of the fourth to extend their lead to 7-0. Georgia State went three up and three down in the bottom half of the inning and UL-L carried its seven-run lead into the fifth.
UL Lafayette's first baseman Kelsey Vincent hit a solo, lead-off home run to left to open the top of the fifth and give UL-L an 8-0 lead. Designated player Mallory Koepke opened the GSU half of the inning with a walk and then second baseman Kensey Caldwell singled to left. After a strikeout and pop fly, Anderson blasted a three-run bomb to left to make it an 8-3 game after five complete.
In the top of the sixth, the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns had runners at second and third but were unable to extend their lead. Coleman opened the GSU half of the inning with a single up the middle but she was stranded at first when a pop-up, strikeout and groundout ended the inning.
UL-L got a lead-off double from Vincent in the top of the seventh. She advanced to third on a pop fly, but was stranded there when Georgia State reliever Taylor Thorpe forced a foul pop-up and recorded a strikeout to end the top half. GSU then went three up and three down in the bottom of the seventh and UL Lafayette clinched the win.
Milton pitched 3.2 innings and allowed seven runs on six hits for GSU. She falls to 3-3 after the loss. Katie Worley pitched 2.1 innings in relief. She allowed one run on three hits. Thorpe pitched the final inning and allowed one hit.
UL-L starter Christina Hamilton improved to 10-1 with the win. She scattered two hits over 6.1 innings.
Game 2
In the second game of the day, Georgia State dropped a close contest to No. 20 UL Lafayette 4-2. First baseman Lauren Coleman led the way for the Panthers going 3-for-4 with a double, a homer, two RBI and a run scored.
The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns opened the game with a lead-off single, but GSU starter Kaitlyn Medlam recorded two strikeouts and a groundout to keep UL-L off the scoreboard. In the bottom of the inning, Coleman hit a two-out, solo home run to straight-away center to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead after one complete.
UL Lafayette tied the game 1-1 with a solo home run of their own in the top of second by Samantha Walsh. Georgia State went three up and three down in the bottom of the frame and the scored was tied 1-1 after two innings.
UL-L was held scoreless in the top of the third. In the GSU half of the frame, left fielder Morgan Brown reached with a lead-off walk. Then after a strikeout and pop-up, Coleman doubled to left center to plate Brown and give the Panthers a 2-1 lead after three complete.
Both teams went three up and three down in the fourth inning. In the top of the fifth, the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns tied the score 2-2 when pinch runner Meagan Thomas scored on a passed ball. Third baseman Kensey Caldwell drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the fifth and advanced to second on Coleman's single through the left side. However, both Panthers were stranded when UL-L starter Jordan Wallace recorded a strikeout to end the threat.
In the top of the sixth, UL Lafayette scored twice to grab a 4-2 lead on one hit and one GSU error. In the bottom of the inning, designated player Callie Alford reached with a one-out walk. Center fielder Ashley Christy then singled to third to put runners on first and second. Pinch hitter MeQuilla Franklin walked to load the bases. However, UL-L escaped the jam when Wallace forced a groundout.
Georgia State used a groundout and double play to retire the UL Lafayette side in the top of the seventh. In the final half inning, Caldwell drew a lead-off walk and advanced to second on a UL-L error on Coleman's grounder. Left fielder Jessica Clifton then advanced the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher. After a strikeout, Alford walked to load the bases but another strikeout ended the game and gave UL Lafayette the 4-2 victory.
GSU reliever Katie Worley falls to 0-2 with the loss. She pitched 2.2 innings and allowed two runs on one hit. Starter Medlam pitched 4.1 innings, allowed two runs and gave up four hits.
UL-L's Wallace improved to 9-2 with the win. She pitched six innings and allowed two runs on four hits. Christina Hamilton recorded her second save of the season after pitching a scoreless seventh inning.
The Panthers will return to the field on Sunday, March 23 to wrap up their first Sun Belt Conference series against the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.
