SOFTBALL DUKES DROP CAA DOUBLEHEADER IN GEORGIA

Saturday, April 17

Atlanta, Ga.

12:00 p.m.

James Madison University

16-27, 4-6

Georgia State

28-13, 7-3

James Madison

Georgia State

4/17/2010 8:00:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

ATLANTA, Ga., April 17, 2010 - Right fielder Whitney Phillips had two home runs, a triple and seven RBIs as Georgia State swept a doubleheader at Bob Heck Field over James Madison in Colonial Athletic Association softball action on Saturday. GSU took game one 7-1 before completing the sweep with a 9-2 victory in game two.

The Panthers won for the 18th time in 22 games at home to improve to 29-13. They took over sole possession of second in the CAA with an 8-3 mark. The Dukes lost their ninth straight to drop to 16-28 overall and 4-7 in conference play.

In game two, Alana Thomas pitched 2 1/3 innings of relief to pick up the win. She improved to 9-3 after giving up one hit and a walk.

JMU junior starter Olivia McPherson (Liberty, N.C./Southern Alamance) received the loss to drop to 3-5. She gave up four runs on five hits and two walks in 2 1/3 innings. Junior right-hander Heather Widner (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Ready) allowed five runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings of relief.

Phillips went 4-for-4 with two home runs, four RBIs and four runs to lead the GSU offense. First baseman Lauren Jones walked and scored three times while third baseman Paige Nowacki contributed two hits and two RBIs.

Senior right fielder Courtney Simons (Richmond, Va./Deep Run) went 2-for-3 with a run and a walk for Madison. Sophomore shortstop Ashley Burnham (Danvers, Mass./Danvers) and junior catcher Katie Spitzer (Broadway, Va./Broadway) drove in one run each.

JMU struck first, scoring in the top of the first for a 1-0 lead. Simons started the offense with a one-out walk. She moved to second on a single to center by senior first baseman Shannon Moxey (Church Road, Va./Mills Godwin) before Lowry struck out freshman third baseman Haley Johnson (Ashburn, Va./Broad Run). Spitzer delivered a two-out single to center, scoring Simons.

GSU fought back to take a 2-1 lead in the second. The Panthers loaded bases with nobody out on a walk and back-to-back singles. Nowacki drove in two with a single to center.

Phillips extended the lead to 4-1 with a two-run home run to left. Jones scored on the blast after walking with one out.

Madison cut into the lead with a run in the fourth. After sophomore designated player Casey Mansfield (Suffolk, Va./Isle of Wight) led off the inning with a single, freshman left fielder Lori Botkin (Manassas, Va./Osbourn) reached on a fielder's choice. She moved to second on a ground-out by freshman center fielde