ATLANTA – Despite falling behind early and not recording a hit until the fourth inning, the resilient App State softball team tallied nine runs across the final three innings to complete a sweep of the Georgia State Panthers in comeback fashion, 9-3. It's the first time since 2019 that the Mountaineers have posted two sweeps in the same season against a Sun Belt opponent.
Grace Barrett and
Julia Girk played hero for the Mountaineers (20-23, 10-8 SBC) on Saturday as Girk hit a two-run home run with no outs in the fifth inning to put the Mountaineers within one, and
Grace Barrett hit the game-winning three-run home run to put App State up two with two outs. Barrett's home run was her second of the series, while Girk's home run was her first since Feb. 8 against Auburn.
Georgia State (11-36, 2-16 SBC) scored three runs in the first inning, but
Ava Beamesderfer shut down the Panthers across the final 5.1 innings pitched to get the win for the second consecutive game. Beamesderfer allowed just one hit and walked none after the Panthers tallied four hits through the first 11 batters. Beamesderfer pitched to a 0.57 ERA in 12.1 innings at Georgia State and allowed just four hits.
The Mountaineers tallied nine hits in the game, and all but three players who took an at-bat recorded a hit in the series finale.
Marti Henkel and
Macy Hamby recorded two hits in the game, while Henkel recorded an RBI in the seventh inning. Additionally,
Makayla McClain bashed her team-leading 12th long ball of the season in the sixth inning, which was her second game in a row with a home run.
How it Happened
After the Mountaineers went down in order to open the game, Georgia State drew a leadoff walk and then sent that run home with a double to make the score 1-0 after a full inning.
Madison McIntyre drew a walk in the second inning to mark the Mountaineers' first baserunner of the game, but App State couldn't answer and went into the bottom of the second trailing by a run.
Georgia State struck for two more runs in the bottom of the second inning, using three hits, which included two doubles, to do so. App State made a pitching change with two outs after an RBI single, turning to Beamesderfer, who struck out the last hitter for the final out of the inning.
The Mountaineers again went quietly in the third inning as Sydney Boulware stymied the App State hitters to open the game. Beamesderfer responded by throwing up a zero in the bottom of the third, keeping the Mountaineer deficit to three after three full innings of play.
Hamby worked a 3-2 count and smacked a single into left field to break up Georgia State's no-hit bid, and McIntyre walked to put two on with two outs, but the Panthers kept their shutout intact by forcing a popout. The Mountaineer defense worked a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom half, which sent the offense back into the dugout looking to start a big rally to bounce off their pitcher.
App State found that rally by scoring five runs in the top of the fifth to take the lead. Henkel led off the inning with a walk, and Girk followed her by bashing a home run to right field to make it a one-run game.
Summer Simpson found first base after reaching on a perfect bunt to third, but the Panthers retired the next two hitters in front of
Leah Gore.
Gore kept the inning alive by smoking a double into the left-center field gap to put two on in scoring position for Barrett. After working a 2-1 count, the Georgia native launched a three-run home run over the left-field fence to put App State on top. A popout ended the inning, but the damage done by Girk and Barrett gave the Mountaineers a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Beamesderfer worked another perfect inning, and the Mountaineers answered by scoring three more times in the top of the sixth to extend their lead.
Grace Taylor, who pinch hit for
Taylor Chumbley, led off the inning by drawing a walk, and then Henkel doubled to left field to put two on in front of Girk. Driving in her third run of the game, Girk sent a flyball into left field to plate Taylor, making the score 6-3. After Simpson advanced Henkel to third on a groundout, McClain stepped to the plate and delivered a dagger of a home run into center field, her 12th of the season.
Not done yet, Hamby sent a triple into center field with two outs, but the Panthers finally got out of the inning with a ground out. The Panthers recorded their first and only hit against Beamesderfer in the sixth inning, a single to right field, but the righty forced a fielder's choice and a popout to end the inning.
App State scored one more time in the seventh inning thanks to Henkel's second double of the game with two outs. Ahead six runs in the final half inning, Beamesderfer returned to the circle and mowed down the Panthers on seven pitches to secure the sweep. Once trailing by three runs, the Mountaineers roared back and plated nine in the final three innings to earn their second Sun Belt sweep of the year.
Saturday Notes
Home runs
App: Girk (2), Barrett (5), McClain (12)
GSU: N/A
WP:
Ava Beamesderfer (4-4): 5.1 IP, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts
SV: N/A
LP: Sydney Boulware (3-12): 5 IP, 6 hits, 7 runs, 4 walks, 1 strikeout
Up Next
The Mountaineers will return home for their second and final midweek competition of the season, hosting the North Carolina Central Eagles at Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium on Tuesday. It will be the first game of a four-game week for App State. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. Admission to Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium is free.
