PANTHERSVILLE, Ga. — Georgia State softball (19-6) split a pair of one-run games against in-state rival Mercer (11-12) Sunday afternoon at the Robert E. Heck Softball Complex.

Game One: GSU 2, Mercer 3

Mercer scored single runs in the second, third and fifth innings on six hits to take the first half of the doubleheader. Speedster McKenzie Woody had two hits, two runs and a stolen base to lead the Bears.

Callie Alford had a two-run single as the Panthers took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Her hit scored Jessica Clifton and Paige Nowacki who both reached on walks. Nowacki also added a double in the third inning.

Georgia State would be unable to score again as Mercer starter Jessica Holsinger shutdown the Panthers' bats, allowing only the one run on four hits. GSU would draw six walks in the contest, but stranded eight batters in the game.

Alana Thomas lasted the complete game for the Panthers, but suffered the loss to fall to 6-2 on the season. She gave up two runs on six hits and also struck out five batters in the game.

Game Two: GSU 2, Mercer 1

Whitney Phillips scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning to break a 1-1 tie and allow the Panthers to split the doubleheader with the Bears. The GSU second baseman also had the second inning double that scored Carrie Williams to tie the game.

Phillips dropped a base-knock into right field with one out in the seventh. Brenna Morrissey then reached on a fielders choice and an error by the Bears' second baseman on the play allowed Phillips to advance to third.

Prior to Phillips' single, the Panthers had been without a hit since the third inning of the game. Both teams' bats were relatively silent in the later innings as they combined for six three-up, three-down half innings and only four hits a side.

Mercer scored their run in the first inning on two hits. McKenzie Woody started the game off with a triple down the right field line and scored on a single by pitcher Kassie Bailey.

Kaitlyn Medlam got the complete-game victory for her seventh win of the season. Medlam gave up the one run on four hits and also struck out three in the game.

Georgia State travels to Kennesaw State next for a doubleheader against the Owls on Sat., March 17.