>>>boxscore game one
>>>boxscore game two

WINGATE, N.C. – The Georgia College & State University softball team (10-21) took on its highest-ranked opponent of the 2010 season thus far, dropping a pair to No. 16 Wingate University (23-3) Friday, 6-1 and 4-2.

In game one, the Bobcats answered a pair of first-inning Bulldog runs with one of their own when first baseman Jessica Solomon (Douglasville, Ga.) ripped a sacrifice fly to left, scoring catcher Anna Parker (Columbus, Ga.), who walked. The Bulldogs broke it back open with a four-run bottom half, the big blow coming via a three-run home run by shortstop Debra Grijalva. Wingate finished with nine runs on 13 hits.

Sophomore righty Haley Burnett (Columbus, Ga.) got the loss (7-10) not making it out of the second inning adding two strikeouts. Brittany Blankenship improved to 12-2 with the complete-game win.

Game two was a much tighter contest. The Bulldogs exploded for four first-inning runs, but then were shut out the rest of the way. Georgia College cut the lead to 4-1 in the third, when third baseman Kelsea Martin (Dacula, Ga.) reached on a fielder's choice and scored on a single by shortstop Kayla Smith (Lexington, S.C.).

The Bobcats inched closer with another run an inning later, as designated player Lauren Potts (Gray, Ga.) led off with a single. She went to third on a Solomon double then after an out, scored when junior Brandie Monroe (Guyton, Ga.) ripped a pinch-hit single through the left side.

Georgia College had runners on in the fifth and the seventh, but couldn't inch any closer.

Sophomore righty Caitlin Duvall (Douglasville, Ga.) took the loss (0-6) in 2/3 of an inning. Burnett was outstanding in relief, going 5 1/3 innings of scoreless ball, scattering six hits and three walks while striking out two. Allison Smith improved to 11-1 with the complete-game victory.

The Bobcats are back in action Sunday, March 21 at noon, traveling to Francis Marion University.

The GCSU Department of Athletics, winners of the 2008-09 PBC Commissioner's Cup, sponsors 10 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, GCSU prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the Bobcats' multiple appearances in post-season competition as well as documented academic success and community-service involvement. Sign up at Twitter.com username GCSUSID for up-to-the-minute reports, and visit www.GCSUBobcats.com to nominate your favorite former Bobcats and Colonials to the GCSU Athletics Hall of Fame.