ATLANTA – Senior Kaitlyn Medlam pitched a complete game to lead the Georgia State softball team to a 3-2 win over Western Kentucky on Friday, May 2 at Bob Heck Field. The win was the 61st of her career and moved her into a tie with Lora Lischinsky as the winningest pitcher in GSU history. The Panthers improved to 29-24 this season and 11-8 in the Sun Belt with the win and the Lady Toppers drop to 31-21-1 overall and 10-9 conference play.
“The win meant a lot because Western Kentucky is a good team,” head coach Roger Kincaid said after the win. “We are happy that we won the first game of the series but there is still work to do. We are now one win from getting the third seed which would be a big statement for our program. I can't say enough about the team's effort tonight. They stepped up and played great softball.”
At the plate, Georgia State was led by sophomore Taylor Anderson who finished 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and one run scored. Senior Jessica Clifton also drove in one run with a single up the middle and senior MeQuilla Franklin scored in the game.
Western Kentucky jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first when third baseman Preslie Cruce hit a lead-off, solo home run. Medlam responded to retire the next three batters with a pop-up and two strikeouts to end the top half. In the bottom of the first, second baseman Kensey Caldwell and catcher Callie Alford singled for GSU but both were stranded when a strikeout ended the first inning with WKU leading 1-0.
Medlam gave up a lead-off single to center fielder Shawna Sadler in the top of the second but she was called out for leaving early when trying to steal. Medlam then recorded a strikeout and forced a line out to Anderson at short to end Western Kentucky half of the second. Designated player Mandy Blackwell hit a lead-off single to right center but was stranded at second and the Lady Toppers led 1-0 after two complete.
In the top of the third, Medlam retired three of the first four batters to keep it a one run game. Anderson reached with a lead-off single to right in the bottom half. She advanced to second on Caldwell's sacrifice bunt but was stranded there when a strikeout and foul pop-up ended the third with Western Kentucky still up 1-0.
Medlam gave up a one-out walk but then struck out the next two batters to end the top of the fourth. In the bottom of the inning, Blackwell reached with a one-out single. She advanced to third when Bethany Oglesby misplayed Franklin's pop-up to right. With runners on second and third, Clifton singled up the middle to plate pinch runner Ashley Christy and tie the game 1-1. After a groundout, Anderson also singled up the middle to score Franklin and give GSU a 2-1 lead after four complete.
Medlam struck out the Western Kentucky side in the top of the fifth. In the bottom of the frame, first baseman Lauren Coleman singled, right fielder Megan Litumbe singled and Franklin walked to load the bases with two-outs. However, Georgia State could not do any damage as a strikeout ended the fifth inning with the Panthers up 2-1.
In the sixth inning, the first two Lady Toppers reached safely but both were stranded when Medlam and the GSU defense ended the threat. Anderson extended GSU's lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth with a one-out, solo shot to left center. The home run was her team-leading 12th of the season and the 52nd of the year for the team.
After striking out the WKU lead-off batter in the top of the seventh, Jacqueline McGill hit a solo homer to left to cut the Panthers' lead to 3-2. Medlam forced a line out to Caldwell at second for out number two. Third baseman Brooke Holloway then singled and advanced to second on Cruce's walk. However, Medlam clinched the 3-2 win by forcing a pop-up to left.
GSU's Medlam improves to 19-11 overall with the complete-game victory. She scattered seven hits over 7.0 innings and allowed two runs.
“Kaitlyn has been so steady over her career,” Kincaid said about his standout pitcher. “She is very consistent and always gives 100 percent effort. Tonight she pitched another complete game and it is such a comfort to know that we can give her the ball and she will perform. She tired the record tonight which is awesome but we want to go out and get her the record tomorrow. It would be her 20th win and that would put her into an elite category and she deserves it." Only five other pitchers in GSU history have won 20 games.
WKU's starter Emily Rousseau also went the distance and falls to 16-15 this season after the loss. She pitched a six-inning complete game and allowed three runs on 10 hits.
The Panthers and Lady Toppers will play a doubleheader on Saturday, May 3 beginning at 1 p.m. Before game 1 Georgia State will honor a trio of seniors, Jessica Clifton, MeQuilla Franklin and Kaitlyn Medlam, for their hard work and dedication to the program.
