CONWAY, S.C. – For the fourth time this season, the Coastal Carolina softball used a walk-off home run to down their opponent on Saturday afternoon as the Chanticleers defeated Georgia State 12-10 at St. John Stadium. Notably, the Chants picked up the first series win of the season.
With the win, CCU improved to 17-23 overall and 3-14 in SBC play, while GSU dropped to 16-25 overall and 6-11 in conference play with the loss.
Prior to first pitch, Coastal Carolina honored the dedication and career of former head coach Jess Dannelly with the unveiling of the Dannelly Deck down the third baseline at St. John Stadium.
Freshman Jay Wrightsman's first career walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning and her second of the day, propelled Coastal past Georgia State as the Myrtle Beach native drove home pinch-runner Kendall Bowman and Abby Jankay for the win.
GSU struck first as Chole Middlebrooks was hit by a pitch before stealing second base followed by Skylar Chavez's two-run home run over the left-center field wall to put the Panthers up 2-0.
Carolyn Deady drew a walk in the top of the second before Jackie Gonzalez doubled to left field and brought home Deady to make the score 3-0.
In the bottom of the second inning, Iyanla De Jesus singled past the shortstop before advancing to second base on a wild pitch. Keirstin Roose drew her first walk of the afternoon before Maddy Jennings drew another Chanticleer to load the bases for Nicolette Picone who singled to right field before a Panthers error allowed all base runners to advance to make the score 3-3. Payton Ebersole looked to continue the Chants' momentum as the sophomore doubled to center field but would be stranded to keep the score deadlocked at 3-3.
In the top of the third, Georgia State added three more runs to put the Panthers up 6-3.
However, Coastal refused to quit and used two, three-run innings in the bottom of the fifth and seventh innings, as well as plating two runs in the bottom of the sixth to push past Georgia State.
The Chanticleers knocked four home runs against the Panthers, including back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the sixth inning from Wrightsman and Makiya Thomas.
Notably, Saturday's contest saw both teams combine for 22 hits and 22 runs.
Four different Chanticleers saw time in the circle, as Mady Volpe (2-4) picked up her second win of the season. Raelee Brabham, Nicolette Picone, and Kaitlin Beasley-Polko each saw action against the Panthers. Picone saw 2.1 innings of work, the most of any Chant.
At the plate, De Jesus led the offensive efforts as the Mill Creek, Washington native, went 3-for-4, while Abbey Montoya finished the afternoon 2-for-4.
For complete coverage of CCU softball, follow the Chanticleers on social media at @CoastalSoftball (Twitter), @GoCCUSports (Instagram), and facebook.com/CCUChanticleers(Facebook), or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina.
