COLUMBUS, Ga. – The Georgia College Softball squad (0-2) dropped two tight ballgames at the Southern Softball Showdown to start the 2018 season Saturday. The opener was a 3-2 loss to Embry-Riddle University, and the nightcap a 13-12 defeat to the University of Montevallo.

In the matchup with ERU, the Eagles got three early runs, two in the second and one in the third, riding the lead out to victory. The Bobcats rallied with a pair in the top of the sixth, but it halted there.

Rightfielder Deja Lester (Jacksonville) had two hits in three trips. Junior righty Kayla Price (Indian Land, South Carolina) took the loss in two innings of work. Newcomer Rebecca Lawrence (Vidalia) had a strong relief effort, allowing just a single run on three hits in her four frames.

Game two had a bit more fireworks, as the Bobcats and Falcons combined for 25 hits and 25 runs. Trailing 13-5 headed to the bottom of the sixth, Georgia College responded with seven runs on five hits. The big blow for the inning was a two-run double by Holland Coursey (Sugar Hill), but the scoring got rolling with RBI singles from Sarah Couch (Madison) and Caitlyn Davis (Kathleen).

Leftfielder Holland Coursey had a massive second game, going 4-for-5 with three RBIs and a run. Centerfielder Caroline Snider (Tennille) added three hits in four at bats, scoring twice and driving in another. Shortstop Baylee Hall (Hephzibah) finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs. Rounding out the multi-hit performers was Davis with two in five at-bats, scoring once and plating one.

The Bobcats hope to even out their record tomorrow, Feb. 4, taking on Valdosta State University at 10 a.m. and Florida Tech at 3 p.m. to close out the tourney.

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 social media for up-to-the-minute reports, and visit GCBobcats.PhotoReflect.com to purchase photo prints from home athletic contests.