What you need to know:
* Behind two great pitching performances by Taylor Thorpe and Chelsea Stanfield, Georgia State took both games of a doubleheader against Appalachian State in Sun Belt action.
* Taylor Anderson, Ashley Christy and Ivie Drake all homered as GSU added to its single-season home run record which now stands at 72.
* GSU improves to 28-15 overall, 7-7 in conference play and has now won five straight games. The series concludes on Sunday, April 12 at 12 p.m.
ATLANTA – Senior Callie Alford recorded her 156th career RBI to break the career record as Georgia State took both games of a doubleheader against Appalachian State on Saturday, April 11.
“Once again, we can't say enough about Callie Alford,” head coach Roger Kincaid said about his recor- breaking senior. “To break the career RBI record after already setting the career home run record is just another highlight in an unforgettable senior season.”
Taylor Thorpe led the way with a dominate, complete-game performance in Game 1 to earn her 15thwin of the season before Chelsea Stanfield allowed just two runs in four innings to get the victory in Game 2.
Game 1
“Taylor gave us a great performance in the circle in Game 1 when we needed that kind of performance,” Kincaid said about his sophomore ace. “She kept us in the game until the offense found a way to score runs and get us the win.”
Those runs came in the bottom of the sixth inning after Appalachian State had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth. Thorpe had a perfect gane going into the fifth inning until Cara Parker hit a solo homer to give the Mountaineers the lead.
After holding the visitors scoreless in the sixth, the Panthers rallied to score two in the bottom of the frame to take the lead. First, Taylor Anderson blasted a solo homer to center with one out to tie the game at one.
With runners on first and second, Alford singled through the left side the drive in the winning run and break the GSU career RBI record. With the lead for the first time in the top of the seventh, Thorpe slammed the door on Appalachian State to secure the 2-1 come-from-behind win.
Game 2
“Chelsea gave us a quality start and pitched four strong innings in Game 2,” Kincaid said. “She pitched deep enough into the game to allow us to pick up the run-rule victory.”
On offense, the Panthers were led by Ivie Drake who hit her 15th home run of the season and finished with four RBI. Taylor Scarpantonio also had a big day going 2-for-2 at the plate with an RBI.
“I want to recognize Taylor Scarpantonio for her performance,” Kincaid said about his senior catcher. “She started Game 2 behind the plate and finished with two crucial hits to help us get the win. This speaks volumes about the type of person and player she is to step us when her teammates needed her.”
Appalachian State took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first before Ashley Christy responded with a solo homer in the bottom of the frame to tie it 1-1 after one complete. GSU then jumped in front 4-1 after two innings on Drake's RBI walk, Litumbe's sacrifice fly and Kensey Caldwell's run scored.
The Mountaineers pulled one run back in the top of the third to make it a 4-2 game after three. GSU pushed its lead to 7-2 in the fourth on Drake's three-run homer. After a scoreless fifth, the Panthers scored three in the sixth, capped by Morgan Brown's walk-off RBI single to drive in the final run to secure the 10-2 run-rule victory.
The Panthers go for a sixth-straight win and series sweep on Sunday at noon.
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