KENNESAW, Ga. -- Behind a one-hit, complete-game shutout from starter Kaitlyn Medlam, Georgia State defeated in-state rival Kennesaw State 8-0.
Shortstop Taylor Anderson finished with 3 RBI and a home run while center fielder Ashley Christy hit a triple, a single, scored two runs and drove in two runs.
Neither team scored in the first inning. In the top of the second, second baseman Kensey Caldwell drew a one-out walk to start the GSU rally. Christy then reached on an error by Owl pitcher Amanda Henderson and both runners advanced to second and third on the play. After a groundout, left fielder Morgan Brown hit a hard grounder to second that was mishandled and allowed Caldwell to score and give the Panthers a 1-0 lead. Brown then stole second before shortstop Taylor Anderson blasted a three-run homer over the right field fence to give Georgia State a 4-0 lead.
In the bottom of the second, Megan Veringa drew a two-out walk but was stranded when Medlam forced a pop-up to end the inning. Catcher Callie Alford led off the top of the third with a walk. After pop fly, Caldwell singled up the middle to put Panthers on first and second. Christy then singled to right center to plate Alford and advance Caldwell to third. Then right fielder Jessica Clifton hit a RBI single to score Caldwell and give GSU a 6-0 lead. After a strikeout, Anderson walked to load the bases but Kennesaw State relief pitcher Paige Matthews escaped the jam with a strikeout.
Medlam retired the Kennesaw State side in order in the bottom of the third to protect Georgia State’s 6-0 lead after three complete. After a scoreless fourth inning, GSU was unable to extend its lead in the top of the fifth. In the bottom of the frame, Veringa hit a one-out single to right to break up Medlam’s no-hitter. She advanced to second on an error and then advanced to third on a fielder’s choice after a walk. Veringa was stranded sixty feet from home when Medlam recorded a strikeout to end the fifth inning with Georgia State leading 6-0.
Both teams went three up and three down in the sixth inning. In the top of the seventh, designated player Megan Litumbe led off with a single through the right side. After a groundout, Christy hit a RBI triple to right center to extend GSU’s lead to 7-0. The Panthers added another run in the inning when Brown singled to plate Christy and make it an 8-0 game heading into the final half inning.
Medlam forced Kennesaw State to go three up and three down in the bottom of the seventh to secure the 8-0 complete game, shutout win. With the win, Medlam improves to 8-6 after allowing just one hit in seven innings.
