PANTHERSVILLE, GA. ? Georgia State (27-10, 6-2 CAA) dropped a pair against Auburn (33-11, 9-7, 0-1 and 0-3, in a mid-week match up on Wednesday, April 9 at Bob Heck Field in Panthersville. Freshman catcher Catherine Lee finished the day batting 3-for-6, along with freshman outfielder Lauren Jones, who also batted .500 on the day.
The first game proved to be a pitchers duel. Through four innings the game was scoreless. Auburn put the game's only run on the board in the top of the fifth as senior outfielder Brittany Scott connected with a RBI double to the right field fence, giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead through four and a half.
The Panthers threatened to come back in the bottom of the sixth when sophomore infielder Danielle Roddy started the inning with a single to the left side. Lee followed with another single before senior infielder Jessica Gowin drew a walk to load the bases. State couldn't get any runners home, keeping the board at 1-0. In the seventh, Rebecca Roles double again put the tying run in scoring position, but the Panthers couldn't get her home and Auburn's one run decision prevailed.
Sophomore Anna Thompson threw the four hit shut-out for the Tigers, improving her record to 11-7 and ERA to 1.69. Senior Ashley Cowan started in the circle for the Panthers, throwing for 5-1/3 innings, taking the loss, moving her record to 6-3.
In the nightcap, junior right-hand hurler Madi Gore started in the circle for State, after pitching 2-2/3 scoreless innings in the first game. Gore allowed only three hits on the day, but took the loss, moving her record to 8-3.
In the top of the fourth, junior outfielder Myesha Finney connected with her fourth homer of the season, putting the Tigers up 1-0. Auburn put another run on the board as catcher Tatiana Fernandez drew a walk, allowing freshman infielder Kyndall White to sacrifice her to second. With one out, junior outfielder Taryn Gray hit a single to left field, scoring the runner from second, giving the Tigers a 2-0 lead through four and a half. That was all Auburn would need for the win, as they scored another in the top of the seventh off Cowan, putting the final score at 3-0.
Auburn, who leads the SEC in pitching with its 1.59 staff ERA, got its 16th and 17th shutouts of the season with its two winningest pitchers starting on Wednesday. The Panthers had 11 hits on the day, but couldn't get the crucial hit to keep rallies alive.
Georgia State returns to the diamond on Saturday and Sunday, April 12-13, as they host the Colonial Athletic Association leader, Hofstra (25-9, 7-2 CAA), with a three game series. Saturday's doubleheader begins at 12 noon, followed by a single game on Sunday at 11 a.m.
