Box Score Game One: http://gcbobcats.com/sports/sball/2015-16/boxscores/20160221_1rjm.xml

Box Score Game Two: http://gcbobcats.com/sports/sball/2015-16/boxscores/20160221_pick.xml

By Justin Peacock, Sports Information Assistant 

HICKORY, N.C. – Georgia College Softball (12-2) went 1-1 Sunday at the LRU Tournament, hosted at Lenoir Rhyne University (12-0). The Bobcats toppled King University (Tenn.) (0-8) in game one 11-1, but would fall to host Lenoir Rhyne 3-2. 

The Bobcats started game one against the King Tornados scoreless until the third. Leadoff hitter Baylee Hall (Hephzibah, Georgia)  and designated player Taylor Campbell (Warner Robins, Georgia) got the offense grooving scoring one run when Hall was walked and Campbell sent her home with a RBI double up the gut. Once the scoring started, Georgia College showcased its offensive and defensive power. 

2015 Jewish Sports Report All-American Danielle Bernstein (Cumming, Georgia) earned the second RBI of the game off a sacrifice fly to left field that sent catcher Lacey Najafi (Gordon, Georgia) to the plate to pump the Bobcat lead up 2-0 in the fourth.

Coach Jamie Grodecki's squad really turned it up and ran away with the game in the sixth and seventh innings. Senior Kristen Brooks (Brunswick, Georgia) doubled up the middle sending Bernstein and one of the Bobcats' identical twins, Hannah Coursey (Powder Springs, Georgia) around the bags scoring two runs. Campbell then stepped back up to the plate and reached first on an error, sending Brooks home. With Brooks' trip around the diamond, Georgia College scored three runs in the sixth.

The seventh inning saw the Bobcats flexing their muscles and scoring six more runs giving them their final score of 11.  Shawnda Martin (Calhoun, Georgia), Carly Lewis (Seymore, Tennessee) and Abi LeRoy (Dublin, Georgia) all earned RBIs in the sixth, but a huge three run home run from Campbell put the cherry on top for the victory.

Senior Marisa Boyette (Marietta, Georgia) had another dominant performance from the circle, only allowing one run and striking out seven while not walking a single batter. Campbell finished the game 2-for-4 with five RBIs and a run, both of her hits going for extra bases. Hannah Coursey added three hits in four trips, scoring twice.

The second game against Lenior Rhyne pitchers' duel battle of the titans for the squad from Milledgeville.

Both teams kept each other scoreless until the third inning. Lenoir Rhyne started the scoring first, sending two batters home and taking the lead in the top of the third 2-0. The Bobcats answered right back scoring two of their own runs off the big bats of Campbell and Faith Flanders (Dublin, Georgia).

Lenior Rhyne punched the dagger into the Bobcats with a run in the fifth, bumping their lead, and final score, up to 3-2 off a fielding error. The Bobcats were never able to bounce back and deliver a counter punch. Lewis threw six strike outs during the game allowing just two earned runs over seven innings. Brooks and Flanders each went 2-for-3, Brooks scoring a run, and Flanders driving one in.

Fans can catch the Georgia College Bobcat Softball team back in action at home Tuesday, Feb. 23, in a doubleheader against Albany State University. The Bobcats begin play at 3 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 all social media formats for up-to-the-minute reports, and visit GCBobcats.PhotoReflect.com to purchase photo prints from home athletic contests.