MONROE, La. – Behind complete-game pitching performances by senior Kaitlyn Medlam and junior Eron Milton, the Georgia State softball team defeated UL Monroe 3-1 in game 1 and 14-4 in game 2 of a doubleheader in Monroe, La. on Saturday, April 26. The Panthers improved to 28-23 overall and 10-7 in the Sun Belt. The Warhawks drop to 21-22 this season and 5-11 in conference play. GSU has won four of its last five, including two of those being wins over top 25 teams.
The Panthers finished the day with 17 runs on 16 hits, including two doubles, a triple and two home runs. Junior Lauren Coleman led the way by going 4-for-5 at the plate with four walks, two runs scored and four RBI. That elevated her season batting average to .403.
Game 1
Georgia State won game 1 of the doubleheader against UL Monroe 3-1 behind a two-RBI triple by senior MeQuilla Franklin and a RBI single by senior Jessica Clifton in the top of the sixth inning. Senior starter Kaitlyn Medlam pitched a complete game to earn the win.
GSU drew three walks in the top of the first inning, but two Panthers were stranded when a groundout ended the threat. In the bottom of the first, ULM's second baseman Miyuki Navarrete reached with a lead-off double and advanced to third on a groundout. First baseman Amye Barre walked and then stole second but both Warhawks were stranded. The first inning ended with the score 0-0.
After Georgia State was retired in order in the top of the second, UL Monroe designated player Vanessa Garcia hit a lead-off single to left but GSU starter Medlam retired the next three batters to end the second frame with the game still scoreless.
In the top of the third, second baseman Kensey Caldwell and first baseman Lauren Coleman drew two-out walks but both were stranded when a groundout ended the top half. Warhawk center fielder Rochelle Roberts drew a one out walk to open the bottom of the third. She then stole second and third, but was stranded sixty feet from home when Medlam forced a ground out to end the third with the score still 0-0.
After a scoreless fourth inning, the Panthers were retired in order in the top of the fifth. In the ULM half of the frame, Navarrete hit a lead-off single to third and advanced to third with two outs on a Georgia State error. She was stranded when a pop-up ended the fifth with the game scoreless.
In the top of the sixth, Coleman and catcher Callie Alford walked to put Panthers on first and second. After a fielder's choice and a pop fly, third baseman Franklin hit a two-RBI triple to right center to give GSU a 2-0 lead. Center fielder Clifton then singled through the right side to plate Franklin and extend the Panthers' advantage to 3-0.
ULM responded to score one run in the bottom of the frame to cut the Georgia State lead to 3-1 after six complete. Warhawk shortstop Faith Bohack reached with a lead-off single and advanced to third on catcher Robbie Dailey's double to left center. Bohack then scored on a fielding error by Coleman but Dailey was then thrown out at home on a fielder's choice. After a walk, Medlam forced a pop-up to end the sixth inning with GSU leading 3-1.
In the top of the seventh, the Panthers stranded runners at first and second but were unable to add to their lead. Medlam then retired the first two batters in the bottom of the final frame before Bohack reached with a single. She then forced a pop fly to end the game and clinch the 3-1 victory for Georgia State.
Medlam improves to 18-10 overall after the complete game win and picked up her 60th career victory, one shy of the school record. She scattered eight hits over seven innings and allowed one run. ULM starter Hamby falls to 13-13 after the loss. She pitched 6.1 innings, allowed three runs on four hits and walked eight.
Game 2
Behind five runs in the third and eight runs in the seventh, Georgia State defeated UL Monroe 14-4 in game 2 of a doubleheader. Junior Lauren Coleman finished 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and four RBI.
First baseman Coleman reached with a two-out single in the top of the first but was stranded. ULM then went three up and three down in the bottom of the first to keep the game 0-0 after one complete. GSU was then retired in order in the top of the second. In the bottom of the second, shortstop Faith Bohack singled back to the pitcher with one out and advanced to second on a walk. After a strikeout, Bohack was caught stealing at third to end the second inning and keep the game scoreless.
Georgia State busted the game open scoring five runs in the top of the third. Catcher Taylor Scarpantonio and shortstop Taylor Anderson drew walks and then Scarpantonio scored on second baseman Kensey Caldwell's single to left. Coleman doubled to score Anderson and Caldwell to give GSU a 3-0 lead. Right fielder Megan Litumbe then hit a two-run bomb to left center to extend the Panthers' lead to 5-0 after the top of the frame.
UL Monroe then responded to score three runs in the bottom of the third to cut the Georgia State lead to 5-3 after three complete. Left fielder Courtney Dutreix and second baseman Miyuki Navarrete hit back-to-back singles and center fielder Rochelle Roberts reached on an error to load the bases. Third baseman Alexis Cacioppo singled up the middle to plate Dutreix and Navarrete. Roberts then scored on first baseman Amye Barre's fielder's choice before GSU starter Eron Milton forced two groundouts to end the bottom of the third.
After a scoreless fourth inning, designated player Callie Alford hit a solo home run to left center in the top of the fifth to extend the Panthers' lead to 6-3. In the bottom of the inning, Navarrete then hit a lead-off single and advanced to third but was stranded when a pop-up ended the fifth frame.
Both teams stranded one base runner in the sixth inning but neither team was able to score. In the seventh inning, Coleman drew a walk to start the GSU rally and two ULM errors loaded the bases. Third baseman MeQuilla Franklin then singled through the right side to plate a run. Center fielder Jessica Clifton hit a sacrifice fly to plate Alford and Scarpantonio walked to load the bases. Pinch hitter Mandy Blackwell then hit a two-RBI single up the middle to give Georgia State a 10-3 lead. Anderson singled to load the bases before Scarpantonio scored on a throwing error by the Warhawk catcher. Coleman then doubled to left to plate Anderson and left fielder Morgan Brown. Finally, Alford capped the inning with a single through the left side to plate Coleman and give GSU a 14-3 lead after the top of the seventh.
In the bottom of the final inning, Navarrete reached on a one-out single, stole second and advanced to third on the throw. Roberts then hit a sacrifice fly to right to plate Navarrete and make it a 14-4 game. Milton then forced a groundout to end the bottom of the seventh and clinch the complete-game victory.
Milton improves to 7-6 this season with the win. She pitched 7.0 innings and allowed four runs on seven hits. UL Monroe's Melanie Coyne falls to 4-2 after the loss. She went 2.2 innings and allowed five runs on four hits. Jessica Colliver pitched 3.2 innings in relief while allowing five runs on seven hits. Haylie Wilson go the final two outs for the Warhawks.
GSU and ULM will play the final game of the series on Sunday, April 27. First pitch has been move up to noon CT, 1 p.m. ET, due to the threat of inclement weather in the Monroe, La. area.
