By: Bailey Clark, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla.- Georgia College & State University Softball (11-5, 1-2 PBC) hung on to the 3-2 win over Flagler College (5-9, 2-1 PBC) to pick up the first road win which doubles as the first conference win, Sunday. 

The Bobcats struck early plating the first run of the game in the first inning. GCSU loaded the bases on a hit-by-pitch and two walks to force a Saint's pitching change. After the change, the 3-for-4 hitter Divina Checo (Marietta, Georgia) came to the plate and rifled one back to the pitcher for an RBI infield single. 

GCSU would tack on an insurance run in the second inning on a single. The offense put two runners on base on a walk and a single to the left side. Kam Caldwell (Athens, Georgia) would pick up an RBI on a base hit knock to left field for the Bobcat's second run of the game. 

Georgia College didn't score in the third inning but would bring their third and final run around to score in the fourth inning. Emily Hobbs (Thomasville, Georgia) would go to pick up her third double of the season on a hit rifled down the right field line to bring the third run around to score. 

Checo led the offense as the only Bobcat hitter with multiple hits on the day. She picked up three singles through seven innings. Hobbs had the only multi-base hit on the day for the Bobcats with her double in the fourth inning. She also had the only stolen base for GCSU. 

Jana Shellhorse (McDonough, Georgia)  got the start and the win for a 5-2 record for Georgia College in the circle. She picked up four strikeouts only allowing two earned runs in six innings of work. Shelby Jones (Kissimmee) picked up her first save of the season pitching the last inning to close the game. 

The Bobcats are back in action Friday, Mar. 3 to host Columbus State University for the second conference series. The first pitch is set for 5 p.m. 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.