Alford Earns CAA Rookie of the Week Honors

Softball Robert Carnes/Sports Communications

Alford Powers Softball to DH Split with JMU

PANTHERSVILLE, Ga. — Callie Alford had five RBI on four hits, including three doubles and a home run as Georgia State (34-14, 11-5) split the first day doubleheader against James Madison (25-24, 11-5) Saturday afternoon at the Robert E. Heck Softball Complex.

With the split, both teams remain tied for second place in the CAA. The rubber match at noon on Sunday will help to break that tie entering the final regular season series.

Game three will also be Senior Day for Georgia State as the Panthers honor eight member of the Class of 2012.

Game One: JMU 4, GSU 1

Georgia State was limited to only one run on seven hits as they lost the first game to James Madison. Alford had a pair of doubles and Audrey Mason had two infield hits to pace GSU.

The Dukes scored two runs on a pair of doubles in the top of the first inning. JMU threatened again in the second, but a great defensive play eliminated two Duke base runners and ended the inning.

Haley Johnson and Morgan Heath hit solo home runs in the sixth and seventh innings to push the James Madison lead to 4-0.

The Panthers pushed across their lone run of the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. Carrie Williams doubled to score Mason from first, but was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a triple.

Alford notched the first Panther hit in the second inning, a double into the gap in right centerfield. With two outs in the inning, Mason reached on an infield single, but both runners were stranded to end the inning.

Starter Alana Thomas allowed eights in 3.2 innings but held the Dukes to only two unearned runs. Kaitlyn Medlam entered the game with the bases loaded in the fourth inning and struck out the first batter she faced to strand three runners.

Heather Kiefer tossed a complete game for the Dukes, allowing only one run on seven hits also striking out five.

Game Two: GSU 5, JMU 1

Alford continued where she left off in the first game by going 2-for-3 at the plate with five RBI, a home run and a walk. Alford drove in all of the Panthers' runs and had half of GSU's hits.

The freshman third baseman hit a two run in the first, drew a bases loaded walk in the second and struck a two run double in the fourth. The RBI walk scored Whitney Phillips from third after Phillips doubled to reach base.

Georgia State scored two runs in the first, another in the second and two more in the fourth to put the second game out of reach. The Dukes plated their lone run of the gamein the top of the sixth four hits, two of which were doubles.

The Panthers were outhit in the contest, 9 to 4, but pitcher McCall Langford scattered the hits over her 5.1 innings pitched to allow only the one run.  Erin Collins relieved Langford in the sixth inning and got two big outs to strand the bases loaded.

www.GeorgiaStateSports.com

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