Softball Splits Doubleheader to Open 2022 Season

Nicholson Earns First Win as Georgia State Head Coach

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 DELAND, Fla. – The Georgia State softball team split a pair of games to open the 2022 season at the Stetson Lead Off Classic on Friday at Patricia Wilson Field.

The Panthers opened the day with a 12-3 win over Indiana State in head coach Angie Nicholson's debut at Georgia State. Unfortunately, the Panthers came up short in the second game of the day, falling to host Stetson 8-2.

"I thought we excuted our game plan well today," Nicholson said. "Overall we fought and swung the bats aggressively."

The day was highlighted by junior Bailee Richardson hitting for the cycle in the first game of the day, while freshman Emily Hodnett showed her abilities both at the plate and in the circle going 6.0 innings.

Georgia State will return to the field on Saturday for two more games at the Stetson Lead Off Classic. Play gets underway at 10:30 a.m., once again facing Indiana State, before a 12:30 p.m., first pitch against Delaware. Both games will air on Stetson's YouTube Channel, HatterVision. Live stats of each game are also available.

Game 1: Georgia State 12, Indiana State 3
Junior Bailee Richardson hit for the cycle in the first game of the season and freshman Emily Hodnett provided both the offense the Panthers needed while shutting down the Sycamores in the circle as Georgia State scored a 12-3 win over Indiana State to open the 2022 season.

Hodnett pitched 6.0 innings while allowing just six hits and two earned runs to pick up the win, while also going 1-for-4 at the plate with a three-run home run.

Georgia State got things going quickly in the top of the first as Emily Brown, Chloe Middlebrooks, and Richardson all got hits and scored to give the Panthers a 3-0 lead before Indiana State even came to the plate.

Richardson recorded a triple in the first, singled to left field in the second, before doubling to left field in the fourth.

After the Panthers added a run in the second, Hodnett hammered a three-run home run to give the Panthers a 7-0 lead in the third inning.

Indiana State scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth before Richardson connected on a two-run home run in the top of the sixth to complete the cycle. Georgia State added another run to push the lead to 10-2 before the end of the inning.

The Panthers would tack on two more runs in the top of the seventh.

Brown finished the day 2-of-5 with two runs score, while Gabby Benson added a pair of hits and two runs scored.

The win improved Georgia State to 2-2 all-time against Indiana State.

Game 2: Stetson 8, Georgia State 2
Georgia State fell to host Stetson 8-2 in the second game of the day managing just four hits after taking an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first.

The Panthers quickly loaded the bases and got on the board when Middlebrooks scored on a wild pitch by Stetson pitcher Jamie Tino.

The Hatters quickly tied the game in the bottom of the first, but Georgia State responded equally quickly on a Middlebrooks single up the middle, scoring Jackie Gonzalez in the top of the second.

Stetson responded with two in the bottom of the second, three in the bottom of the third, and two more in the bottom of the fourth to secure the first win of the season for the Hatters.

Middlebrooks finished 1-for-2 with a run scored, RBI, and walk, while Gonzalez finished 1-for-3 with a run scored.

Following this weekend's play, Georgia State will return to action on Wednesday traveling to Cullowhee, N.C., for a doubleheader with Western Carolina at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#4 Gabby Benson: OF; 5' 5"; Sophomore; L/L

#19 Emily Brown: OF; 5' 6"; Freshman; L/R

#6 Bailee Richardson: IF; 5' 6"; Freshman; R/R

#27 Emily Hodnett: P; 5' 11"; Freshman; R/R

#1 Chloe Middlebrooks: OF; 5' 3"; Freshman; R/R

#16 Jackie Gonzalez: INF; 5' 4"; Freshman; R/R

Players Mentioned

#4 Gabby Benson
: 5' 5"; Sophomore; L/L
: OF

#19 Emily Brown
: 5' 6"; Freshman; L/R
: OF

#6 Bailee Richardson
: 5' 6"; Freshman; R/R
: IF

#27 Emily Hodnett
: 5' 11"; Freshman; R/R
: P

#1 Chloe Middlebrooks
: 5' 3"; Freshman; R/R
: OF

#16 Jackie Gonzalez
: 5' 4"; Freshman; R/R
: INF