by Alex Cooper, sports information assistant 

COLUMBUS, Ga. – The Georgia College softball team (11-3) finished the Cougar Classic I in style Sunday, defeating Belmont Abbey College (3-7) by a score of 6-2 before winning the final game 8-2 over Tusculum College (3-5).

The Bobcats differed from the usual pitching rotation Sunday, opting to pitch sophomore Carly Lewis (Seymour, Tennessee) in the first game. Lewis did not disappoint, tossing her sixth complete game in seven starts. She did not allow an earned run, the only two runners to cross the plate coming after an error. Lewis struck out nine Crusader batters, allowing just one hit in seven innings.

Georgia College took advantage of three Belmont Abbey errors, scoring six runs on just three hits. Senior Frankie Walls (Dahlonega) tallied the lone RBI of the day for the Bobcats, bringing home Lewis on a fourth inning single. Kristen Brooks (Brunswick) and Lacey Najafi (Suwanee) notched the other two hits for the 'Cats. Brooks also stole two bases in the first game, giving her nine on the season, second most in the Peach Belt Conference (PBC).

Pitching the second game for the first time all season, junior Marisa Boyette (Marietta) kept her hot streak alive, throwing her seventh-consecutive complete game to begin the season. She allowed just one earned run on six hits, while striking out nine Pioneers. Her seven wins and 63 strikeouts this season are both best in the PBC.

The Bobcat bats came alive for the second game of the day as they scored eight runs on 14 hits, their second most of the season. Four different 'Cats tallied multi-hit efforts in the contest with freshmen Holland Coursey (Sugar Hill) and Baylee Hall (Hephzibah) leading the way at three hits apiece. Coursey and Hall both notched three RBI against the Pioneers, as fellow freshman Hannah Coursey (Sugar Hill) was credited with the only other RBI on a seventh inning solo home run, her second in as many days.

The big inning was the fifth for the Bobcats, which saw them score four of their eight runs. After a groundout to start the inning, Walls and Brooks hit back-to-back singles to bring Holland Coursey to the plate with runners on first and second. She made it three straight singles, plating Walls for the first run of the game. Hall followed with another single, bringing home Holland Coursey and Brooks. The fourth run of the inning was due to a double steal that saw Hall scamper across the plate.

Georgia College is back in action Friday, Feb. 20 as they travel to Barry University for a doubleheader, with the first pitch at 4 p.m.

The Georgia College Department of Athletics, two-time winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup, sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' multiple appearances in post-season competition as well as documented academic success and community-service involvement. Sign up at @GCBobcats on Twitter and Facebook for up-to-the-minute reports, and visit GCBobcats.PhotoReflect.com to purchase photo prints from home athletic contests.