BOONE, N.C. – Georgia State softball (20-15, 2-5 SBC) erupted for 15 runs on 11 hits Friday night, powering past the App State Mountaineers 15-7 in Boone, N.C.
In the circle, Brynn Belstle earned the win in relief, tossing 3.1 innings. Offensively, Dillyn Suggs delivered a standout performance, going 2-for-3 with a double, a home run and five RBIs. Ciarra Jefferson matched the production with two doubles and three RBIs, finishing 2-for-3 at the plate. McKenzie Walker paced the Panthers with three hits in four at-bats, scoring three runs and adding a two-run homer.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Georgia State wasted no time setting the tone, erupting for six runs in the opening frame. Suggs jumpstarted the inning with a two-run double, Jefferson followed with an RBI double, and Caitlyn Hall capped the surge with a two-run homer to give the Panthers a 6-0 lead.
App State answered with four runs in the bottom half, but Georgia State responded immediately. Suggs struck again in the second inning, launching a three-run homer to push the lead to 9-4.
After the Mountaineers trimmed the deficit to 9-5 in the third, the Panthers broke the game open in the fourth. A two-run single from Chloe Hatcher and a two-run double by Jefferson extended the advantage to 13-5.
App State got within 13-7 in the bottom of the fourth, but Walker delivered the final blow in the fifth, crushing a two-run homer to right center to seal the 15-7 win.
GAME NOTES
» Walker had three base knocks in the game for Georgia State.
» The Panthers had both Jefferson and Suggs smack multiple extra-base hits in the ballgame.
» Suggs drove in five runs for Georgia State.
» Georgia State's highest scoring inning was the first, when it pushed six runs across.
» Georgia State took a 6-4 lead in the top 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 Mountaineers at an 11-8 clip.
» Georgia State went 7-for-11 (.636) with runners in scoring position.
» Georgia State pitchers faced 29 Appalachian State hitters in the game, allowing six ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out two.
» Suggs led the Panthers at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a double, a home run and five RBIs.
ON DECK
The Panthers return to Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium on Saturday for game two of the series. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.