What you need to know:
* Georgia State fell to No. 4 Alabama 9-1 in Tuscaloosa Wednesday night.
* Kensey Caldwell hit her fifth homer of the season for the Panthers' only run.
* GSU now travels to Lawrence, Kan. to participate in the Rock Chalk Challenge this weekend.
* The Panthers' first game is against UMKC at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 20.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Kensey Caldwell hit her fifth homer of the season but it was not enough as the Georgia State softball team was defeated by No. 4 Alabama 9-1 Wednesday night in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Taylor Anderson started the game with a lead-off single. She then stole second but was stranded there. Alabama then jumped in front with two runs in the bottom of the frame. GSU was retired in order in the second and the Crimson Tide added one to their lead to go up 3-0 after two.
Mandy Blackwell led off the third with a single before being thrown out a second on Morgan Brown's fielder's choice. Brown then stole second and Ashley Christy singled to put Panthers on the corners but both were stranded when a foul pop-up ended the threat.
Alabama scored three in the third to push its lead to 5-0. The Crimson Tide again added a single run in the fourth before GSU got on the board when Caldwell hit a solo shot to left in the top of the fifth. The Panthers could have done more damage, but a strikeout ended the inning with the bases load.
Alabama responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame to secure the win. The Panthers drop to 19-4 overall and now shift their focus to this weekend's tournament in Lawrence, Kan. Georgia State's first two games are on Friday, March 20 against UMKC at 11 a.m. and Eastern Michigan at 6:30 p.m.
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