SOFTBALL FALLS TO GEORGIA STATE 1-0 IN CAA TOURNAMENT

Thursday, May 10

Hempstead, N.Y.

3:30 p.m.

James Madison University

Georgia State

5/10/2007 4:00:00 AM | Softball

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y., May 10, 2007 ? Georgia State's Jessica Gowin's second-inning RBI single was enough for a 1-0 victory over James Madison in the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament first round Thursday afternoon at Hofstra University.

The third-seeded Panthers improved to 33-28 and advanced to face top-seeded Hofstra on Friday in the winners' bracket. Second-seeded JMU had its school-record 18-game winning streak snapped and fell to 37-15 overall. The Dukes will face fourth-seeded UNC Wilmington at 10 a.m. Friday. The Seahawks' had a seventh-inning rally fall short in a 3-2 loss to Hofstra in the tournament opener.

Madi Gore pitched a complete game for the Panthers giving up only five hits and striking out eight.

The game was a pitchers' dual the entire way with both teams getting runners aboard to have them left on base by solid pitching and defensive plays on both sides. Georgia State left nine runners n base throughout the game and James Madison left seven.

The Dukes threatened to tie the game in the third when Kaitlyn Wernsing (Clemmons, N.C./West Forsyth) hit a leadoff single up the middle. Wernsing advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Katie George (Virginia Beach, Va./Tallwood). Jenny Clohan (Ashburn, Va./Broad Run) hit a bloop single to center field to give the Dukes runners on first and second with one out but Gore struck out the next batter and then forced a groundout to third base to get out of the inning unscathed.

In the bottom of the seventh JMU had one final shot. Brittney Lyddane (Manassas, Va./Osbourn Park) hit a double to right field with one out. The next batter grounded out to the shortstop for the second out before Wernsing drew a walk to put two on with two outs. Gore was able to strikeout the final batter to end the game.