ATLANTA --The Georgia State Panthers took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and never surrendered the advantage on the way to a 6-4 victory against the South Alabama Jaguars on Saturday.
Senior Sydney Boulware (3-7) started in the circle and picked up the win for Georgia State (10-22, ). The right-hander went six innings, giving up four runs, all of them earned, on five hits, allowing two walks and striking out four. Senior Kate Kastelic also made an impact in the circle for the Panthers, throwing one shutout inning while allowing no hits, with no walks and one strikeout.
Offensively, the Panthers were paced by sophomore Jordan Rayner, who went 3-for-3 on the day with a double, a home run and two RBI. Sophomore Lauren Brister compiled a standout performance at the dish as well, going 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. Freshman Ryleigh Garrett also chipped in for Georgia State, putting together one hit in two trips to the plate while adding a home run and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Panthers got the scoring started early, putting two runs on the board in the bottom the first inning with the game still scoreless. Georgia State plated two runs when Brister left the yard with Rayner aboard.
The Jaguars failed to push any runs across before the Panthers built on their lead in the third inning. Rayner's run-scoring single highlighted an inning where Georgia State scored twice, which brought the Panthers lead to 4-0.
Georgia State held South Alabama scoreless before expanding their lead to 5-0 the following inning. The Panthers picked up a run on Garrett's leadoff home run off junior Tori Miller.
The Jaguars gained ground, closing the gap to 5-1 until Georgia State added some insurance in the fifth. The Panthers picked up a run on Rayner's one-out solo home run off junior Olivia Cato, bringing the Georgia State advantage to 6-1. South Alabama put three runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Panthers still held on for the 6-4 win.
GAME NOTES
» Rayner picked up three base knocks in the game for Georgia State.
» The Panthers power output was led by Rayner, who picked up two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Georgia State's highest scoring inning was the third, 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.
» Georgia State hitters hit three dingers in the ballgame.
» The Panthers out-hit the Jaguars at a 9-5 clip.
» Georgia State went 3-for-6 (.500) with runners in scoring position.
» Georgia State pitchers faced 29 South Alabama hitters in the game, allowing three ground balls and 13 fly balls while striking out five.
» Rayner led the Panthers at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double, a home run and two RBI.
Georgia State finalizes the series against South Alabama on Sunday afternoon.
