CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The Georgia State Panthers dropped an 8-7 battle to the Chattanooga Mocs in eight innings Tuesday night at Frost Stadium.
Briana Bower started on the mound, pitching 6.2 innings before Brynn Belstle took over in the seventh.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Panthers got on the board early with a sacrifice bunt from Ciarra Jefferson, allowing Maya Bagsby to push across the first run in the first inning.
Lauren Brister added another run in the second, bringing the early advantage to 2-0.
Chattanooga answered in the third inning with an unearned run, but the Panthers pulled away in the fifth.
The Panthers extended their advantage with three runs. McKenzie Walker scored on a single by Chloe Hatcher to make it 3-1. Bagsby followed, scoring on an RBI groundout by Allison Jones, and Hatcher scored on a single from Dillyn Suggs, pushing the lead to 5-1.
In the seventh inning, Jefferson drove in Brister with a single, bringing the score to 6-1 in favor of Georgia State.
The Mocs rallied in the bottom of the seventh, scoring five runs to tie the game at six.
Georgia State responded in the eighth when Jefferson doubled, bringing Walker home for a 7-6 lead. However, Chattanooga plated two more in the bottom half, including a walk-off double, securing the 8-7 win.
GAME NOTES
» Every Georgia State starter reached base safely in the game.
» The Panthers' most productive inning was the fifth, when they scored three runs.
» Four Georgia State hitters recorded multiple hits.
» Georgia State out-hit Chattanooga on a 12-10 clip.
» The Panthers went 6-for-16 (.375) with runners in scoring position.
» Georgia State pitchers faced 39 Chattanooga batters, inducing seven ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out six.
» The Panthers drew four walks from the Mocs' pitching staff.
» Jefferson led the offense with a 1-for-3 performance, including a double and two RBIs.
ON DECK
The Panthers return home for a weekend series, hosting the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. First pitch is set for Friday at 6 p.m., continues Saturday at 4 p.m. and closes Sunday at noon.
