By: Bailey Clark, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga.- Georgia College & State University Softball (2-0) picked up the sweep over Fort Valley State University (0-2) with a 4-1 game one win and a 8-0 game two win, Sunday. 

The Bobcats jumped on the Wildcats early plating two runs in the first inning. Mackenzie Martin (Dacula) picked up the first RBI of the contest on her first hit of the young season. Martin knocked the ball into left field for a single to give the Bobcats the 1-0 lead. Kam Caldwell (Athens) picked up the second RBI of the contest as she grounded out to the second baseman which gave the runner time to score. The GCSU offense went quiet in the second and third innings then plated two more runs to cap off their four run scoring effort. Lauren Sommerer (Loganville) put the ball in play, picking up an RBI on a fielder's choice to give the Bobcats the 3-1 lead. MacKenzie Hoffman (Rocky Face) picked up the fourth and final RBI of the contest on her second hit to score Sommerer on an infield single. Hoffman was the only Bobcat to have multiple hits in the contest as she went 2-for-4 with a double in the second inning then the RBI single in the fourth. 

Jana Shellhorse (Hampton) picked up her first start and a win in the circle for the Bobcats. Shellhorse picked up eight strikeouts while only allowing one earned run in her five innings of work. Montana Ledbetter (Hanna City, Illinois) got the relief effort and the save. She picked up three strikeouts while allowing zero earned runs in two innings of work. 

The second game was heavy in offense for the Bobcats as they took down the Wildcats 8-0 in five innings. The big bat of Jessica Owens (Social Circle) awoke early in the contest picking up the first RBI of game two on a single to center fielder in the first inning. GCSU scored the lone run in the first inning then got the hot bats started in the second inning plating three runs. Ashley Schell (Cumming) pushed two runs across on a bunt single that turned into an errant throw by the FVSU defense to bring another runner and herself around the base paths. Sydney Lancaster (Woodstock) followed a similar suit by driving a single to center field which got past the centerfielder causing Lancaster to make a round trip. The Bobcat offense plated three more runs in the third inning. Madison Todd (Suwanee) kicked things off with an infield single to score the first run of the third inning. In Schell's at bat a run was able to come across on a dropped third strike passed ball. The third run of the inning came and yet another infield single this time by Lancaster. The Bobcats capped off the game in the bottom of the fifth inning on the pinch hit bunt from Haydn Bendall (Alpharetta) which forced a Wildcat error to end the game in run rule fashion. 

Shelby Jones (Kissimmee, Florida) nabbed her first start and win in the circle as a Bobcat. She picked up the complete game shutout which was the first one for the Bobcats since Feb. 28, 2020 where current graduate assistant coach MacKenzie Michels picked up the shutout against Claflin University. Jones amassed six strikeouts and allowed zero runs through her complete five innings of work. 

The Bobcats are back in action Tuesday, Feb. 7 at the Peeler Complex against Emmanuel College in doubleheader fashion. The first pitch is set for 4 p.m. with game two to follow. Live stats and broadcast links will be 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.