Georgia State softball advances in Sun Belt Tournament

Release from Georgia State Athletics:

Megan Litumbe launched her 20th homer of the year and Georgia State’s 100th of the season as Georgia State defeated Troy 9-3 to survive and advance to the double-elimination portion of the Sun Belt Conference Softball Championship.

Katie Worley allowed two runs on four hits in four innings as she earned her second win of the day and 13th of the season. Kensey Caldwell was 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored while Litumbe led the way with two RBI to go with two hits and two runs scored. Callie Alford, Lauren Coleman and Ivie Drake all finished with two hits.

After two scoreless innings, Georgia State took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third when Morgan Brown scored on Drake’s RBI single. Drake then tried to extend the GSU lead on Alford’s double but was thrown out at home to end the threat. Troy then scored two runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 2-1 lead after three complete.

The Panthers responded with four runs in the fourth and the fifth to put the game out of reach. In the fourth, Coleman reached on catcher’s interference and scored on Caldwell’s single. Litumbe then scored on a suicide squeeze bunt by Brown. Next, Caldwell and Brown scored on a dropped fly ball to put GSU up 5-2 after four.

In the fifth, Alford started the inning with a single and advanced on an error. Coleman then singled to drive in Alford before scoring on Litumbe’s 20th homer of the year. After a single, walk and fielding error loaded the bases, Anderson drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to put the Panthers ahead 9-2.

Troy added a single run in the seventh with a solo homer before Taylor Thorpe closed out the game to secure the win. Georgia State will now face No. 1-seed UL Lafayette at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, May 7 in the first game of the double-elimination portion of the tournament.