Panthers Close Out Doubleheader Sweep With 7-3 Win Over Dragons

Saturday, April 9

Drexel Softball Field

11:00 a.m.

Drexel University

Georgia State

Panthers Close Out Doubleheader Sweep With 7-3 Win Over Dragons

4/9/2011 4:28:24 PM | Softball

Box Score

Philadelphia – Georgia State hit five home runs, including four solo shots in the seventh inning to close out a doubleheader sweep of the Dragons on Saturday with a 7-3 win. Lauren Jones homered twice for the Panthers. Rachel Campbell drove in two more runs in the game.

Shyann Beach started in front of the home fans for the first time this season. She pitched effectively through five innings, scattering six hits and four walks while allowing three runs to cross the plate. Shelby Taylor relieved her in the sixth inning and was the pitcher of record for all four of the Panthers' runs in the seventh inning.

McCall Langford improved to 9-8 with the win for the Panthers. She pitched all but one out of the game, allowing one run on three hits and two walks while striking out four batters.

Whitney Phillips' two-run single gave the Panthers a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
Beach pitched her way out of the third inning with the bases loaded when Audrey Mason hit a sizzling line drive to second base that was snare by Amanda Bachmann.

Beach pitched her way though scoreless innings in the third and fourth to help the Dragons stay within two runs of the Panthers. But a towering home run to left field by Lauren Jones with one out in the fifth sent her to the bench in favor of Shelby Taylor with the Dragons trailing 3-0.

Drexel threatened in the bottom of the fifth when, with two outs, Langford hit Comfort Ahonkhai in the leg with an inside pitch. Ahonkhai stole second and sprinted to third when the throw got away from the shortstop. Rachel Campbell put a charge into a Langford offering but it came up just short of the warning track for the final out.

In the top of the sixth Drexel seemed poised to make its rally. Laura Stagliano led off with a single to left field and stole second. Paige Collings followed by drawing a walk after a long battle with Langford. Jenn Reading roped a line drive toward the left side of the infield that was snagged by a leaping Paige Nowacki at shortstop.

Hillary Allen followed with a single pulled through the left side of the infield, bringing Metcalf to the plate with the bases loaded and one out. The junior shortstop dropped down a bunt to the left side with the infield back. The squeeze play worked as third baseman Megan Kallatsa's only play was to first with the speedy Stagliano charging from third base to make it a 3-1 game. Amanda Bachmann grounded out to third base to end the inning with runners on second and third.

Chelsea Sparks restored the Panthers' three-run lead when she knocked a home run over the right field wall in the top of the seventh. Jessica Clifton followed with a homer to left center on the very next pitch, making it a 5-1 game. After Taylor settled down to strikeout pinch-hitter Emily Althafer, Jones belted her second homer of the game, a low liner to right center, to give the Panthers a 6-1 lead. Nowacki followed with the team's fourth solo home run of the inning, a high shot to left field.

Audrey Mason reached on a fielder's choice as Williams slid safely into second base before the covering Metcalf could get there for the force out. Pinch hitter Holly Houghton reached on an error by Caprice DeMirjian at third base to load the bases. The Dragons finally escaped the inning when Whitney Phillips lined to DeMirjian at third for an inning-ending double play.

The bottom of the Dragons' lineup sparked a seventh-inning rally against relief pitcher Erin Collins. Pinch-hitter Kelly Downes drew a lead-off walk and Ahonkhai reached on a booted ball by the third baseman. Campbell followed with a double to right center to plate both runners as she took third on the throw home, making it a 7-3 game. Paige Collings followed with a walk, which was enough bring Langford back into the game. The contest's original starting pitcher on the visiting side recorded the final two outs of the game to close out the win.

The teams will complete the series on Sunday with an 11:00 a.m. game. The Dragons will welcome back members of the 1991 East Coast Conference Championship team as part of a 20th anniversary ceremony prior to opening pitch.