CLINTON, S.C. – The Georgia State softball team was defeated by Presbyterian 6-0 in game 1 and 4-3 in game 2 of a doubleheader on Sunday, March 9 at the PC Softball Complex in Clinton, S.C. The Panthers fall to 11-8 this season after the losses, while the Blue Hose improve to 8-8.
Game 1
Georgia State was defeated by Presbyterian 6-0 in game 1 behind a two-hit, complete game shutout by Blue Hose starter Sydney Seigler. MeQuilla Franklin and Megan Litumbe singled for the Panthers only two hits of the game.
Neither team scored in the first or the second inning. In the bottom of the third, Erin Taylor homered to left center to give PC a 1-0 lead. Then after a groundout and strike out, Erin Ruff walked and Jill McLean doubled to left to score Ruff and put the Blue Hose up 2-0 after three complete.
GSU went three up and three down in the top of the fourth before Presbyterian added to its lead in the bottom of the inning. Shelby Petik opened the inning with a walk for the Blue Hose and advanced to second on a single. She then scored on Jordan Ashley's two-out single up the middle to give PC a 3-0 lead through four.
After a scoreless top of the fifth for Georgia State, Presbyterian doubled its advantage with three runs in the bottom of the inning. The Blue Hose started the rally with a double to left by Ruff and she advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. Petik then singled to plate Ruff before Kersten Legacki hit a two-run home run to right to cap the inning.
Neither team scored in the sixth inning but MeQuilla Franklin singled in the top of the frame to break up Seigler's no-hitter. In the top of the seventh, the Panthers managed one single by Litumbe but could not rally and the Blue Hose secured the 6-0 victory.
GSU starter Kaitlyn Medlam falls to 7-4 after the loss. She pitched four innings and allowed four runs on five hits. Seigler earned the win for PC and she improves to 5-4 this season. She pitched a complete game shutout and allowed two hits.
Game 2
PC scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to come from behind to beat GSU 4-3 in game 2 of the doubleheader. Callie Alford finished with two hits and one RBI, while Lauren Coleman went 2-for-4 with two doubles.
In the first half inning, MeQuilla Franklin hit a leadoff single to left center. Ashley Christy then advanced Franklin to second with a sacrifice bunt, but Franklin was tagged out at second. Lauren Coleman then doubled through the right side, but a strike out ended the inning. PC started the bottom half with a walk by Erin Ruff. She advanced to second on Jill McLean's sacrifice bunt and scored on Hope Rogers' single to give PC a 1-0 after one.
After neither team scored in the second or third, Georgia State took the lead with a three-run top of the fourth. Coleman doubled to left center and Megan Litumbe singled through the right side to put Panthers on the corners. Jessica Clifton was then caught stealing before Callie Alford singled to right to score Coleman and tie the game 1-1. Mallory Koepke singled to third to keep the rally alive. Then, Alford and Koepke scored on an error by Blue Hose centerfielder McLean.
In the top of the fifth, Ashley Christy singled with one out to put runner on first and second. After a pop fly, Presbyterian reliever Natasha Sherrod intentionally walked Litumbe to load the bases, but Callie Alford flied out to center to end the threat. PC's Erin Taylor hit a leadoff home run to center to make it a 3-2 game with no outs in the bottom of the fifth. After a walk, McLean hit a RBI triple to right to tie the game 3-3. McLean then scored on GSU relieve Katie Worley's wild pitch to give Presbyterian a 4-3 lead after five innings.
Kensey Caldwell doubled down the left-field line with one out, but she was thrown out at third on a fielder's choice. Taylor Thorpe then singled to right center to put Panthers on the corners, however, Franklin flied out to center to end the top of the sixth. Georgia State held Presbyterian scoreless in the bottom of the sixth.
In the top of the seventh, Litumbe reached on a two-out walk and advanced to third on Alford single through the right side. However, both runners would be stranded as a strike out ended the game to gave PC the 4-3 win.
Georgia State's Katie Worley falls to 0-1 with the loss. GSU starter Eron Milton pitched four innings and allowed two runs on five hits. Presbyterian's Natasha Sherrod earned the win after pitching two scoreless innings in relief.
The Panthers return to the field Wednesday, March 12 to host Mississippi State at the Robert E. Heck Softball Complex. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
