YOUNGSVILLE, La. — The Georgia State Panthers opened play at the Mardi Gras Mambo with a pair of narrow losses Friday night, falling 3-2 to No. 25 Southeastern Louisiana Lions before dropping a 9-8 decision to Northwestern State Lady Demons in Youngsville.

In the opener, Makayla Stephens delivered a strong performance in the circle, striking out eight hitters across six innings, but the Panthers came up just short against the 25th-ranked Lions.

Georgia State's offense surged in game two behind McKenzie Walker, who went 4-for-5 with four RBIs, adding a double and a triple. Briana Bower logged 5.2 innings in the circle, facing 33 batters, as the Panthers battled to the final out in the one-run loss.

GAME 1: SLU 3, GSU 2
The Panthers put runs on the scoreboard first, starting the scoring in the third inning. Georgia State managed to push across two runs in the inning. The Panthers were unable to hold the lead, as SE Louisiana scored three times over the remaining four innings to grab the 3-2 win.

GAME 2: NSU 9, GSU 8
The Georgia State Panthers struck early and often, opening the scoring with a run in the first inning before erupting for four more in the second to build a 5-1 lead. Georgia State added insurance runs in the fifth and sixth innings, but was unable to hold the advantage late. Northwestern State Lady Demons answered with a six-run sixth inning and plated the walk-off runs in the seventh to secure a 9-8 win.
 

GAME 1 NOTES
» Stephens fanned eight Lions hitters.
» Georgia State's highest scoring inning was the third, when it pushed two runs across.
» Georgia State pitchers limited SE Louisiana to just 2-for-12 (.167) with runners in scoring position.
» Georgia State pitchers faced 26 SE Louisiana hitters in the game, allowing five ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out eight.
» Kya Walker led the Panthers at the plate, going 1 for 2 with a double.

GAME 2 NOTES
» The Georgia State Panthers scored in four different innings, highlighted by a four-run second inning that gave GSU an early 5-1 advantage.
» Georgia State outhit NSU with 13 hits compared to the Lady Demons' 10 hits. 
» McKenzie Walker led the Panthers offensively, going 4-for-5 with four RBIs, a double, and a triple.
» Walker accounted for half of Georgia State's RBIs in the contest.
» Bella Morton, Maia Mumpfield, Lauren Brister, and Chloe Hatcher each drove in one run for the Panthers.
» Georgia State added two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth to extend the lead to 8-1 before the late rally.
» Briana Bower worked 5.2 innings in the circle, facing 33 batters and striking out two.

UP NEXT
The Panthers return to action on day two of the Mardi Gras Mambo on Saturday, Feb 14, squaring off against Nicholls Colonels at 4 p.m. before closing the day against Sam Houston Bearkats at 6 p.m.