What you need to know:
*Callie Alford hit her 32nd career homer in the first inning to tie the GSU career home run record.
* Lauren Coleman also homered as Georgia State defeated Kennesaw State 11-3 in six innings.
* The Panthers improve to 23-7 overall this year and are unbeaten (10-0) at home.
* Next, No. 24 South Alabama comes to Atlanta for a conference series beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 28 at 1 p.m.
ATLANTA – Behind home runs by Callie Alford and Lauren Coleman, Georgia State defeated Kennesaw State by run-rule, 11-3, in six innings at Bob Heck Field Thursday night.
"Today was a good day at Panthersville," head coach Roger Kincaid said. "Taylor Thorpe got her 11th win, Callie tied the career home run record and the team beat our crosstown rival. I'm very proud of the team."
Alford launched her 32nd career bomb in the bottom of the first to give the Panthers a 3-0 lead they would not relinquish. The homer was the ninth of the season for the senior, and she is now tied with Lauren Jones and Paige Nowacki for first on the GSU career home run list.
"Callie has been a huge part of our program and I am so happy for her milestone achievement," Kincaid said. "She just tied two very good power hitters in Lauren Jones & Paige Nowacki. The best is yet to come. I am excited to see how the rest of season unfolds."
Coleman hit a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth to extend the GSU lead to 4-0 after three complete. The Owls then pulled two runs back in the top of the fourth. Georgia State responded in the bottom of the fourth with Ivie Drake driving in two to restore the Panthers' four-run lead, 6-2.
GSU added a single run in the fifth to go up 7-2 before Kennesaw State scored once in the sixth to make it a 7-3 game. In the bottom of the sixth, back-to-back walks put two one with no outs for Coleman who singled to drive in Alford.
Another walk loaded the bases before Mandy Blackwell singled to drive in Brenna Skalski. Anderson then hit a sacrifice fly to plate Coleman before Christy hit a walk-off, RBI double to give the Panthers the run-rule victory.
The Panthers improve to 23-7 overall and Taylor Thorpe picked up her 11th win of the season. Georgia State continues its home stand with a doubleheader against No. 24 South Alabama in Sun Belt play on Saturday, March 28 at 1 p.m.
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