By: Bailey Clark, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla.- Georgia college & state university softball (10-5, 0-2 PBC) took two tough losses to Flagler college (5-8, 2-0 PBC) in the conference-opening weekend, Saturday.

The first game of the Saturday doubleheader was a 4-0 loss for the bobcats. The Saints struck first in the bottom of the first half on an RBI ground out with the bases loaded. The next runs were scored in the bottom of the third inning on a two-run home run. FC capped off their scoring with another round-trip shot in the bottom of the fourth inning. 

The bobcats had two hits in the first contest with the first coming off the bat of Madison Todd (Suwanee, Georgia) in the fourth inning on a solid base knock. The other bit of the game came in the top of the sixth inning with MacKenzie Hoffman (Rocky Face, Georgia) using her speed to get an infield single. Hoffman also swiped a stolen base.

Jana Shellhorse (McDonough, Georgia) got the start and the loss in the circle for GCSU. Shellhorse had three earned runs and two strikeouts through 2.1 innings of work.

 The next game of the day was a tough five-inning 11-1 loss for Georgia College. The saints had three big innings scoring four runs in both the first and third innings. They also tacked on three more in the fourth. The Bobcats played their lone run in the top of the second inning.

GCSU had four hits through five innings.  Jessica Owens (Social Circle, Georgia) highlighted the offense going 1-for-1 with a moonshot dinger for the lone run of the day. Owens also added a walk to her Boxscore for a perfect on-base percentage in game two. Both Sydney Lancaster (Woodstock, Georgia) and Mackenzie Martin (Dacula, Georgia) added singles to right field for the second and third hits of the game. Divina Checo (Marietta, Georgia) capped off the hits for GCSU with a base knock to left field. Checo also added a stolen base.

Shelby Jones (Kissimmee) got the start and the loss in the circle in game two. Eight runs only four of which were earned in her 2.2 innings of work.

The Bobcats are back in action tomorrow Sunday, Feb. 26 to finish out the series with Flagler. The first pitch is set for noon with live stats and broadcast links available at GCBobcats.com.

Owning the top Academic Success Rate among public schools in Division II, the Georgia College Department of Athletics sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. GCSU Athletics has won three-straight Presidents' Awards for Academic Excellence, and are two-time winners of both the PBC Commissioner's Cup and the PBC Institution of the Year Sportsmanship Award. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' continued appearances in postseason competition as well as high-level academic success and community-service involvement. Bobcat Athletics embodies the mantra of "Graduating Champions for Life." Sign up at @GCSUBobcats on all social media outlets for up-to-the-minute reports.