Georgia State Handles Delaware in Sweeping Doubleheader From Blue Hens, 12-1 and 8-0
April 16, 2011
Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell
• Game 1 Boxscore
• Game 2 Boxscore
ATLANTA, Ga. -- The University of Delaware softball team scored the first run of the opener but Georgia State scored the final 20 runs of the afternoon from there as the Panthers cruised to a Colonial Athletic Association sweep of the Blue Hens, 12-1 and 8-0, both in five innings, Saturday at Bob Heck Field.
Delaware, which fell to 14-27 overall and 4-7 in the conference, took the early lead in the first game when Jenny Richards opened the game with a single down the rightfield line, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Michelle McKinnon, and scored on a single up the middle by Lara Andrews (at right).
However that lead would not last long as the Panthers, who improved to 26-17 overall and 10-1 in league play, took control by scoring four runs in the bottom of the first. Jessica Clifton ignited the rally with a leadoff double to leftcenter, and following a groundout, Lauren Jones and Paige Nowacki each worked a walk to load the bases. Audrey Mason then lofted a sacrifice fly to left to drive home Clifton, and after Emily Whitaker was hit by a pitch, Amanda Stacevicz replaced UD starting pitcher Anne Marie Pagano in the circle.
Maddy Stanton then reached on an error by Blue Hen rightfielder Gina Knutson, allowing all three Panther runners to score to put Georgia State on top, 4-1. The Panthers added a run during the second when Brenna Morrissey drew a two-out walk, stole second and third base, and scored on a single to right by Jones.
Georgia State continued to rally in the third as Mason reached on an error, Whitaker walked and Stanton singled to load the bases. Whitney Phillips hit a sacrifice fly to drive home the first run of the inning, and after Morrissey delivered a two-out RBI single, Jones singled home two more to make it a 9-1 game.
The Panthers continued to pour it on during the fourth as Megan Kallatsa worked a bases loaded walk before Clifton and Morrissey each stroked run-scoring singles to conclude the scoring.
Meanwhile Georgia State pitcher Alana Thomas did not allow a hit after the first inning, as she improved to 6-6 after giving up just one run on two hits in five innings of work. Pagano dropped to 4-5 for the Blue Hens after allowing four runs, just one earned, on two hits in 1.1 innings, while Stacevicz was charged with eight runs, four earned, in 2.2 frames.
The nightcap remained scoreless until the bottom of the second, when Nowacki led off with a walk and Mason followed by blasting a two-run homer to leftcenter. The Panthers added their third run during the bottom of the third when Morrissey singled up the middle and scored on a two-out double to center by Nowacki.
After singles by Phillips and Kallatsa were followed by a walk to Clifton to load the bases during the fourth, Morrissey drove home all three runners with a single to make it a 6-0 game. Later in the inning Nowacki delivered an RBI double and then came around to score on a single by Mason to cap the rally.
Panthers pitcher McCall Langford tossed a three-hit shutout to improve to 10-8 for Georgia State, while UD starter Kathleen Conway gave up eight earned runs in 3.2 innings while falling to 2-8 on the season.
Noons finished 2 for 2 for the Blue Hens, while Andrews had the other Delaware hit.
The Blue Hens and Panthers conclude their weekend series on Sunday with a 12 noon single game at Bob Heck Field.
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