by Sam Jones, sports information student assistant

CARROLLTON, Ga. - The No. 8 Georgia College softball team (24-6) split two games in doubleheader action with non-conference foe University of West Georgia (19-11), dropping game one against the Wolves 9-4 after a slow start but roaring back in game two, mashing their way to a 9-2 win thanks in part to a complete game, one earned-run effort from Carly Lewis (Seymour, Tennessee).

The Bobcats opened their trip to Carrolton with a three-run top of the first, but were quickly countered by a seven-run bottom half by West Georgia. Georgia College brought in one more run in the second inning but remained scoreless the rest of the game.

Lacey Najafi (Suwanee) had a big first game for the Bobcats, going 3-for-4, coming around to score once as well as knocking in a run. Abi LeRoy (Dublin) and Danielle Bernstein (Cumming) also had strong showings, going 2-for-3 in the contest.

Brooke Taylor (Powder Springs) was solid in 5.2 innings of relief work, allowing three runs.

Game two was a completely different story for the Bobcats.

A Kristen Brooks (Brunswick) RBI broke a scoreless draw in the top half of the third. The Bobcats added one more in the fourth and two more in the fifth making it 4-0 before the Wolves pulled back a run in the bottom of the fifth. West Georgia added one more in the sixth but the Bobcat bats quickly squashed any hope of a Wolves comeback, exploding for five runs in the top of the seventh. Holland Coursey (Sugar Hill) opened the scoring in the big inning, knocking in an RBI, and was immediately followed by her sister Hannah Coursey (Sugar Hill), who launched a grand slam over the rightfield fence.

Holland Coursey finished with a 3-for-4 performance, while Hannah Coursey ended the second game 2-for-3 with four RBIs.

Meanwhile, Lewis picked up her 12th win of the season (12-3) after going the full seven for the 10th time this year, striking out three in the process.

The next game for coach Jamie Grodecki's squad is at home Friday, March 18 as the Bobcats welcome Peach Belt Conference (PBC) rival Armstrong State University to Milledgeville for a doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m. Friday will be Military Appreciation Day, featuring free admission and popcorn for all with military ID.

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.