What you need to know:
* GSU defeated Troy 4-3 to complete the Sun Belt Conference series sweep.
* Taylor Thorpe earned her ninth win and remained undefeated (9-0) this season.
* Ivie Drake drove in all four runs for Georgia State including the game-winning home run.
* The 16-2 Panthers now look to keep their 13-game win streak alive at home against Tennessee Tech Wednesday, March 11.
ATLANTA – Behind an outstanding performance at the plate by freshman Ivie Drake, Georgia State finished the sweep of Troy with a 4-3 victory at the Robert E. Heck Softball Complex Sunday afternoon. The Panthers have now won 13 straight games and improve to 16-2, including a 3-0 mark in the Sun Belt.
“It was great to complete the sweep with a win today to keep the momentum rolling,” head coach Roger Kincaid said. “That is what we talked about and I challenged the team to go out there and do it. You have to win games like this in order to have a great season.”
Drake was 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and a home run. She drove in all four of GSU's runs and scored once herself. Taylor Anderson also doubled for the Panthers' only other hit. Lauren Coleman drew two walks to become the career walks leader in Georgia State history with 134.
Taylor Thorpe pitched 3.0 innings in relief en route to her ninth victory of the season. She is now 9-0 this season and is tied for first in wins in the conference standings. Katie Worley started the game and pitched 4.0 innings. She allowed two runs on three hits while striking out six.
GSU jumped in front early with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Ashley Christy reached on an error before Coleman and Callie Alford walked to load the bases for Drake. The freshman catcher then doubled to right center to clear the bases and put Georgia State up 3-0.
Troy pulled two runs back in the top of the second to make it a 3-2 game after two complete. Then after three scoreless innings, the Trojans tied the game at three on Hannah Day's RBI single up the middle in the sixth. However, the tie was short lived as the Panthers retook the lead in the bottom of the sixth on Drake's solo homer.
Thorpe then retired the side in order in the top of the seventh to secure the win. The Panthers return to Bob Heck Field Wednesday, March 11 to host Tennessee Tech for a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.
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