ATLANTA - The Georgia State softball team fell to No. 21 Tulsa 8-2 and Georgia Tech 5-1 on Sunday in the final day of the Georgia Tech/Kennesaw State Invitational. The Panthers are now 6-4 overall this season.
Game 1
After a scoreless first inning, Georgia State grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Callie Alford reached on a walk to open the inning. After two strike outs, Alford stole second and scored on Ashley Christy's RBI single up the middle. Christy also stole second and two walks loaded the bases, but a strike out ended the threat.
In the top of the third, Tulsa grabbed a 4-1 lead on three hits and a Panther error. Maggie Withee drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on an error. Jill Barrett then doubled down the right field line to drive in Withee and tie the game 1-1. After a strike out, Erica Sampson hit a three-run homer to left to extend the Golden Hurricane lead to 4-1.
Megan Litumbe hit a solo home run in the bottom of the third to make it a 4-2 game through three complete. Tulsa scored a single run in the fourth and two in the top of the fifth to extend its lead to 7-2. After a scoreless sixth, Tulsa added another run in the top of the seventh and three Panther strike outs in the bottom of the frame ended the game.
Kaitlyn Medlam gets the loss for Georgia State after pitching three innings and giving up three runs on four hits. Aimee Creger earned the win for Tulsa She pitched five innings and give up two runs on two hits.
Game 2
In the bottom of the first, Georgia Tech grabbed a 1-0 lead over the Panthers on Alysha Rudnik's RBI double to left field. Georgia State starter Kaitlyn Medlam escaped the jam by forcing a pop-up to keep the score 1-0 in favor of the Yellow Jackets after one.
After a scoreless second inning, the Panthers tied the game 1-1 in the top of the third. She reached with a bunt single and stole her way to second. After Taylor Anderson walked and stole second, Christy scored on an error by the shortstop on Anderson's steal.
In the bottom of the frame, the Yellow Jackets started a two-out rally that would see them score three runs on four hits. After three complete innings Georgia Tech held a 4-1 lead. Neither team would score in the fourth or fifth innings.
Georgia State went three up and three down in the top of the sixth. In the bottom of the frame, Chelsie Thomas reached on a fielder's choice and scored on Maddie Lionberger's double to left field to extend Georgia Tech's lead to 5-1.
With one out in the top of the seventh, Mandy Blackwell singled up the middle. Mallory Koepke subbed to run for Blackwell but was thrown out at second on Kensey Caldwell's grounder to third. Christy singled to put Panthers on first and second, but a ground out to second ended the game.
Kaitlyn Medlam falls to 3-3 this season after the loss. She pitched three innings and gave up four runs on five hits. Kylie Kleinschmidt earned the win after pitching a complete game. She gave up one unearned run on four hits.
GSU returns to action Wednesday, Feb. 26 when the Panthers host in-state rival Mercer for a doubleheader at the Robert E. Heck Softball Complex. First pitch in game one is scheduled for 4 p.m.
