ATLANTA – After splitting a doubleheader on Saturday, the Georgia State softball team defeated UT Arlington 4-1 Sunday, April 6 to clinch the series at Bob Heck Field. The Panthers are now 19-20 overall and 4-5 in the Sun Belt and the Mavericks drop to 15-23 this season and 1-8 in conference play.
“We made some good plays in the field and did what we needed to do defensively today to get the victory,” head coach Roger Kincaid said after the win. “We have to get to .500 before we can get over .500 and that is what we want to do in conference play. Our goal is to finish in the top four to get a bye in the conference tournament and we just have to keep pushing.”
Junior first baseman Lauren Coleman finished a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored, and Junior catcher Callie Alford blasted a two-run homer in the bottom of the third to help GSU win its second straight Sun Belt Conference series.
In the top of the first, UTA loaded the bases with one out but Georgia State starter Eron Milton kept the Mavericks off the scoreboard by recording a strikeout and forcing a pop-up to end the threat. Taylor Anderson led off the bottom of the first with a double off the center field wall. She advanced to third on third baseman MeQuilla Franklin's sacrifice bunt. Anderson then scored on Coleman's RBI single up the middle to give GSU a 1-0 lead after one complete.
“It is important to get off to a good start and scoring that run in the bottom of the first set the tone for the rest of the game,” Kincaid said about the first inning.
After a scoreless second, UT Arlington stranded two runners in the top of the third when Milton forced a groundout to end the inning. In the bottom of the frame, left fielder Morgan Brown drew a lead-off walk and advanced to third on two groundouts. She scored on Coleman's second RBI single of the game to give Georgia State a 2-0 lead. Alford then launched a two-run bomb to left to give the Panthers a 4-0 lead after three innings. The home run was her third of the season and first since Feb. 26.
“Today was a great team win. We have been working to cut out the errors by focusing on making the common plays and some outstanding players every now and then. We have been finding ways to get on base and have been getting clutch hits when runners are in scoring position,” Alford said about the team winning five of its last eight.
UTA's Mallory Foster reached with a lead-off double in the top of the fourth. After recording a strikeout, senior Kaitlyn Medlam replaced Milton in the circle for GSU. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner to third but Medlam forced a pop fly to retire the UTA side and protect Georgia State's 4-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Panthers stranded runners at second and third when a strikeout ended the inning. UT Arlington got on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth when shortstop Nina Villanueva scored on first baseman Rebecca Stokes sacrifice fly to cut GSU's lead to 4-1. Coleman led off the bottom of the fifth with a single but the Panthers could not extend their lead and the score remained 4-1 after five complete.
The Mavericks stranded two base runners in the top of the sixth before Georgia State went down in order in the bottom of the frame. In the final inning, Medlam and the Panther defense retired the UTA side three up and three down to secure the 4-1 win.
Starter Eron Milton earned the win to improve to 4-5 this season after pitching 3.1 innings and allowing zero runs on three hits. Kaitlyn Medlam earned her second save of the season after allowing one run on one hit over 3.2 innings of work.
“We got a quality start from Eron, and she gave us exactly what we needed,” Kincaid said. “The plan was to bring Kaitlyn in behind her. Sometimes the plan works and today was one of those days. They both did a great job executing.”
Maverick starter Shannon Carrico falls to 7-9 after the loss. She pitched three innings and allowed four runs on five hits. Callie Collins pitched three scoreless innings in relief while allowing three hits.
The Panthers return to action on Tuesday, April 8 at 6 p.m. GSU will make the short trip across Atlanta to battle Goergia Tech at Shirley Clements Mewborn Field. On Wednesday, April 9, Georgia State will travel to Statesboro, Ga. to face in-state rival Georgia Southern. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
