JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Behind four home runs in the top of the seventh inning, the Georgia State softball team extended its winning streak to four games with a 10-6 win on the road over Jacksonville State on Wednesday, April 16. The Panthers improve to 24-21 overall while the Gamecocks drop to 29-12.
GSU has now hit 48 homers this season which sets a new Georgia State single-season record with 10 games remaining this season. The 2014 team passed the mark of 47 set by the 2006 squad.
Junior Lauren Coleman led the way with three RBI and hit her ninth home run of the season. Sophomore Taylor Anderson and freshman Megan Litumbe each finished with two RBI and two runs scored. Junior Callie Alford and senior Jessica Clifton also hit solo homers for GSU.
A groundout opened the game, then second baseman Kensey Caldwell singled to shortstop for Georgia State. She scored when Jacksonville State made back-to-back errors on first baseman Coleman's grounder to short. GSU ended the bottom of the first with a double play to protect its 1-0 lead after one complete.
After a scoreless second, Georgia State doubled its lead in the top of the third when shortstop Anderson scored on Coleman's RBI single. Anderson reached on a fielder's choice and then stole second. Coleman then singled through the left side to plate Anderson. After a lead-off walk, the next three Gamecocks were retired in order and the Panthers led 2-0 after three innings.
In the top of the fourth, right fielder Litumbe singled to short and advanced to second when third baseman MeQuilla Franklin singled down the left field line. Both runners advanced on center fielder Clifton's groundout. Then Anderson singled to right to score Litumbe and Franklin to extend GSU's lead to 4-0 after four.
Both teams were retired three up and three down in the fifth inning. Georgia State stranded a runner at second in the top of the sixth. Jacksonville State finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth when right fielder Ella Denes hit a solo home run. The Gamecocks then got back-to-back singles but both runners were stranded when a pop fly ended the sixth inning with GSU up 4-1.
The Panthers blasted four home runs in the top of the seventh to extend their lead to 10-1. Coleman hit two-run homer, catcher Callie Alford hit a solo shot, Litumbe launched a two-run bomb and Clifton capped the inning with her first home run of the season. Clifton's homer broke the Georgia State single-season record of 47 set by the 2006 team.
Catcher Savannah Sloan was by a pitch for Jacksonville State to open the bottom of the final inning. After a pop-up, center fielder Hayden Crawford singled to advance Savannah Sloan to second. Left fielder Melanie Steer then singled to load the bases for the Gamecocks. Denes hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Savannah Sloan. Taylor Sloan then singled to center to score Crawford before Sara Borders hit a three-run home run to cut the GSU lead to 10-6. After a single, Medlam forced a pop fly to left to end the game and help Georgia State clinch its fourth straight win.
Panther starter Medlam improves to 16-8 overall with the win and is now 8-1 in her last nine decisions. She pitched a complete 7.0 innings and allowed six runs on 10 hits. Medlam has also pitched a complete game in six of her last seven starts.
Jacksonville State starter Taylor West falls to 3-2 after the loss. She pitched 4.0 innings and gave up four runs on seven hits. Logan Green pitched 2.1 innings in relief, allowed five runs and gave up four homers. Casey Akenberger recorded the final two outs for the Gamecocks.
Georgia State now turns its attention to a road Sun Belt Conference series against No. 19 South Alabama. The teams will play a doubleheader starting at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 18 and a single game on Saturday, April 19 at 1 p.m.
