What you need to know:
* GSU hit six home runs to push its season total to 90 in a doubleheader sweep of UL Monroe Friday.
* Georgia State improves to 32-18 overall and 11-9 in Sun Belt play this season to move into fifth place.
* The series finale is Sunday, April 26. The Panthers will honor six seniors prior to the 12 p.m. first pitch.
ATLANTA – Lauren Coleman and Ivie Drake each blasted two home runs to lead the Georgia State softball team to a pair of wins over UL Monroe Friday in Sun Belt Conference play. GSU took Game 1 in five innings 11-2 before coming from behind to win Game 2 10-8.
Coleman finished the day with a single, a triple and two homers to go with seven RBI and four runs scored. Drake launched her 18th and 19th home runs of the season to break the GSU single-season record of 17 held by current teammate Megan Litumbe and Catherine Lee.
Game 1
Georgia State jumped out to an early 6-0 lead after three innings before winning the game on Ivie Drake's walk-off, run-rule home run in the bottom of the fifth. Katie Worley pitched a complete game en route to her ninth win of the season. She pitched a three-hitter and struck out 10.
Mandy Blackwell and Morgan Brown drove in two in the second inning before Coleman cleared the bases with a grand slam in the third. ULM responded with two runs in the top of the fourth to make it a 6-2 game. Then, in the bottom of the fifth Georgia State scored five runs to secure the run-rule victory.
Coleman led off with a triple before scoring on Blackwell's double. Taylor Anderson singled to drive in a run before Ashley Christy's sacrifice fly plated Brown. Drake then launched her 18th homer to clinch the win and break the GSU single-season record.
Game 2
Thanks to six home runs, the Panthers came from behind twice to complete the doubleheader sweep of the Warhawks with a 10-8 win. Blackwell, Christy, Coleman and Drake all homered as GSU pushed its season total to 90 dingers.
UL Monroe jumped in front with two runs in the top of the first before Georgia State tied the score in the bottom of the frame on Drake's second homer of the day and 19th of the season. The Warhawks reclaimed a 4-2 lead with a pair of runs in the second.
Then, the Panthers scored four in the bottom of the third to take a 6-4 lead on Callie Alford's RBI single and Coleman's three-run bomb. However, ULM would not go quit, scoring two in the fourth to tie the game 6-6 after four innings.
Georgia State responded emphatically with four runs in the fifth, thanks to home runs by Blackwell and Christy. UL Monroe made it interesting with two runs in the sixth, but Worley closed out the final two frames to secure the win for the Panthers.
The Panthers had 23 hits and six walks to score the 21 runs in the DH sweep.
GSU returns to the field on Sunday, April 26 at noon for Senior Day. The Panthers will honor six seniors prior to first pitch for their commitment and dedication to the program. Georgia State's home finale is Monday, April 27 against No. 10/11 Florida State at 3 p.m.
Follow along with Georgia State on Twitter (@GSU_Softball) and Facebook for the latest news. For softball tickets call 404-403-4020 or click here.