ATLANTA — The Georgia State Panthers (7-6, 0-0 SBC) completed day two of the I-75 Challenge by sweeping a Friday doubleheader against the Yale Bulldogs (1-6, 0-0 IVY), earning a 3-1 win in game one before rolling to a 15-0 shutout at Bob Heck Softball Complex.
GAME 1: GSU 3, Yale 1
The Panthers broke through in the bottom of the second inning when Zoey Defoor ripped a double into left field, allowing Caitlyn Hall to race home with the game's first run. Georgia State kept the momentum rolling moments later, as Ciarra Jefferson followed with a single to right-center to drive in Defoor and give the Panthers a 2-0 advantage.
Briana Bower kept the Bulldogs off the board, and the Panthers added to the lead in the third inning. Lauren Brister delivered a clutch two-out RBI double to extend the margin to 3-0.
Yale managed to scratch across one run late, but the Panthers remained in control throughout, closing out a 3-1 victory. Bower took the win as she tossed her second complete game of the season.
GAME 1 NOTES
» Georgia State's highest scoring inning was the second, when it pushed two runs across.
» The Panthers out-hit the Bulldogs at an 8-4 clip.
» Georgia State pitchers limited Yale to just 1-for-8 (.125) with runners in scoring position.
» Georgia State pitchers faced 27 Yale hitters in the game, allowing six ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out four.
» Brister led the Panthers at the plate, going 1 for 3 with a double and an RBI.
GAME 2: GSU 15, Yale 0
The Georgia State Panthers struck early and never let up, rolling past the Yale Bulldogs for a five-inning, 15-0 shutout victory.
After Yale managed a single hit in the top of the first, Georgia State immediately seized control in the bottom half of the inning. Singles from McKenzie Walker and Maya Bagsby set the table before Chloe Hatcher launched a three-run home run, giving the Panthers a quick 3-0 advantage.
The Panthers kept the pressure on in the second inning, capitalizing off of RBI singles from Bagsby and Maia Mumpfield extended the lead to 5-0.
Georgia State broke the game wide open in the third with a 10-run outburst on 10 hits. The inning featured RBI knocks from Caitlyn Hall, Allison Jones, Mumpfield, Hatcher, Lauren Brister, and a two-run single from Samantha Breaux. By the end of the frame, the Panthers had built a commanding 15-0 lead.
From there, Georgia State's pitching staff slammed the door, retiring Yale scoreless the rest of the way to secure the run-rule win to cap the day.
GAME 2 NOTES
» Makayla Stephens and Tenison Myricks combined to throw a four-hit shutout.
» Stephens struck out seven Bulldogs hitters.
» The Panthers power output was led by Hatcher, who compiled two extra base hits going 3 for 3 with a double, a home run and four RBIs in the ballgame.
» Every Georgia State starter reached base safely in the win.
» Georgia State's highest scoring inning was the third, when it pushed 10 runs across.
» Five Panthers had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Panthers had a total of 16 hits.
» The Panthers out-hit the Bulldogs at a 16-4 clip.
» Georgia State went 12-for-18 (.667) with runners in scoring position.
» The Panthers got three hits in five at-bats with the bases loaded.
» Georgia State pitchers limited Yale to just 1-for-7 (.143) with runners in scoring position.
» Georgia State pitchers faced 21 Yale hitters in the game, allowing one ground ball and four fly balls while striking out nine.
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to the Heck for day three of the I-75 Challenge, hosting the Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m.
