BOONE, N.C. – In a game that saw over an hour's worth of rain delays, the Georgia State Panthers jumped out to an early six-run lead thanks to a big first inning, which helped it pull out a 15-7 victory over the App State softball team in the series opener on Friday. App State pulled within two after an
Emilie Ching home run in the bottom of the first inning, but Georgia State's offense was too much to overcome.
App State (21-10, 2-5 SBC) responded well to Georgia State's (20-15, 2-5 SBC) outburst in the top of the first inning with four runs. The Mountaineers came as close as four runs again in the third inning thanks to a
KB Bradshaw RBI single, but Georgia State closed the game by scoring six of the final eight runs to post the run-rule win.
Grace Barrett, Ching and
Leah Gore led the way for App State on offense with two hits apiece, while Ching accounted for a career-best four RBIs. Gore swatted two doubles on Friday, and Barrett tallied a perfect 2-2 day with two runs scored.
How it Happened
After a lead-off single started the game,
Sophie Moshos recorded the first two outs on a popout and a groundout. But the Panthers showcased strong two-out hitting and scored six runs to take an early lead.
Makayla McClain led off the bottom of the first with a hit-by-pitch, and after a 52-minute rain delay, Barrett doubled to put runners on second and third with one out.
Taylor Schafer scored the Mountaineers' first run with a single up the middle before Ching launched a three-run home run to left field to make it a two-run game. Georgia State recorded the final two outs to end the inning, but App State's resiliency brought the score to 6-4 after an inning.
Georgia State used a three-run homer in the top of the second to go back ahead by five. The Mountaineers couldn't answer in their half of the second, but Moshos threw up a zero in the third to keep them within five. Looking to chip away, App State again cut its deficit back down to four with a Bradshaw RBI single that scored a Gore double, but Georgia State maintained its four-run lead as play moved to the fourth.
The Panthers capitalized on an App State error to score four runs in the fourth inning to go ahead 13-5. Back-to-back doubles by Ching and Gore cut the Mountaineers' deficit down to six in the bottom of the fourth, but the Panthers answered with two more in the top of the fifth to go back ahead by eight. App State saw McClain draw a walk in the bottom of the fifth inning, but she was stranded as a popout to second ended the game.
Friday Notes
Home runs
App: Ching (9)
GSU: Hall (1), Suggs (3), Walker (2)
WP: Brynn Belstle (1-0): 3.1 IP, 5 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks, 1 strikeout
SV: N/A
LP:
Sophie Moshos (9-5): 4 IP, 15 runs (5 earned runs), 2 walks, 5 strikeouts
Up Next
App State and Georgia State are set to meet in the middle game on Saturday at Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium. Saturday's game is alumni day, and the contest will be broadcast on ESPN+.
