COLUMBIA, S.C. --The Georgia State Panthers took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and never trailed from there on the way to a 6-3 win against the Miami (OH) RedHawks on Saturday night at the Carolina Classic.
Freshamn Ryleigh Garrett hit the first home run of the season for the Panthers, and head coach Becca Owens earned her first win at the helm of Georgia State softball.Â
Senior Sydney Boulware (1-2) started in the circle and picked up the win for Georgia State (1-8). The right-hander went five innings, giving up three runs, all of them earned, on five hits, allowing one walk and striking out six. Sophomore Makayla Stephens also made an impact in the circle for the Panthers, throwing one shutout inning while allowing one hit, with no walks and one strikeout.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Panthers got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the bottom the first inning with the game still scoreless. Georgia State plated two runs off of Miami (OH) pitching, one of which was driven in on a run-scoring double off the bat of junior Maia Mumpfield.
The RedHawks failed to push any runs across before the Panthers offense got back to their scoring ways the next inning. Georgia State picked up a pair of runs in the frame. which brought the Panthers lead to 4-0.
Georgia State kept Miami (OH) without a run before building their lead to 5-0 the following inning. The Panthers scored once on an RBI single off the bat of sophomore Bella Morton.
Georgia State held the RedHawks without a run before building on their lead in the fifth inning. The Panthers sent in a run on freshman Ryleigh Garrett's one-out solo home run off junior Lea Chevrier, bringing the Georgia State advantage to 6-0. Miami (OH) put three runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Panthers still held on for the 6-3 win.
GAME NOTES
» Boulware struck out six RedHawks hitters.
» The Panthers power output was led by Garrett, who had two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Georgia State's highest scoring inning was the second, when it pushed two runs across.
» Georgia State grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» The Panthers out-hit the RedHawks at a 7-6 clip.
» Georgia State pitchers limited Miami (OH) to just 1-for-5 (.200) with runners in scoring position.
» Georgia State pitchers faced 29 Miami (OH) hitters in the game, allowing four ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out eight.
» The Panthers drew four walks from Miami (OH) pitching.
» Garrett led the Panthers at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a triple, a home run and an RBI.
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TOURNAMENT RECAP:Â
vs. South Carolina (Feb. 13): L, 0-13
vs. South Carolina (Feb. 14): L, 1-9
vs. Winthrop (Feb. 15): L, 3-5
vs. Miami (OH): W, 6-3
