By: Bailey Clark, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

YOUNG HARRIS, Ga.- Georgia College & State University Softball (17-7, 5-4 PBC) nabbed both ends of the doubleheader at Young Harris College (11-16, 3-6 PBC) after two comeback wins, Saturday. 

This is the first time since the 2015 season that Bobcat Softball has picked up the series win. They swept the doubleheader 7-1 and 7-3 on Apr. 18 that year. 

The first game of the doubleheader had some offensive firepower as 23 runs on 28 hits were scored between the Bobcats and the Mountain Lions. GCSU had to chip away at the YHC lead through the second and third innings. Sydney Lancaster (Woodstock) put the Bobcats on the board first on a sacrifice fly to center field. Emily Hobbs (Thomasville) followed up with a two-RBI single up the middle to cut the Young Harris lead to 6-3. 

MacKenzie Hoffman (Rocky Face) tacked on the only run of the third inning on an infield single as the Bobcats now trialed 6-4. 

GCSU hung a nine spot in the fourth inning that propelled them to the 13-10 win. Jessica Owens (Social Circle) kicked off the scoring with a single to the second baseman to bring a run around. Mackenzie Martin (Dacula) added some more RBI to her season total as she picked up a base knock to bring two runs across. Madison Todd (Suwanee) tied that game at eight with a single to the pitcher. Back-to-back singles for Hoffman brought in a run for the 9-8 lead. Ashley Schell (Cumming) swung the big stick solidifying the 13-10 win on a grand slam over the right-center field fence. 

Kaitlyn Anders (Makanda, Illinois) got the start in the circle allowing eight runs on six hits in two innings of work. Shelby Jones (Kissimmee, Florida) got the relief effort to win by pitching five innings. Jones (7-4) only allowed two runs in her outing as she picked up two strikeouts. 

Much like the first contest the Bobcats had to work from behind to nab the 7-6 victory. Todd kicked off the game with two-run production on her first career dinger to bring three runs around to score to cut the deficit to 4-3 in the fourth inning.  Following the three-run fourth, inning two-run sixth and seventh innings would give GCSU the win. Hoffman picked up a bases-loaded walk to bring around the first run of the sixth inning. Shea Zweifel (Ormond Beach, Florida) picked up the pinch hit a sacrifice fly to bring around run two of the sixth to tie the game at five. The seventh inning also yielded two Bobcat runs starting with Martin reaching on a fielder's choice to plate a run. Todd capped off the scoring with an RBI ground out to end her impressive outing. 

Montana Ledbetter (Hanna City, Illinois) got the start in the circle only allowing three earned runs on three hits in one inning of work. Jana Shellhorse (McDonough) got the relief effort to win going six innings. Shellhorse (7-2) only allowed two earned runs on four hits and picked up seven strikeouts. 

The Bobcats will keep with their road action as they are set to travel to Erskin College on Tuesday, Mar. 14 in doubleheader fashion. The first pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. with the second game 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 post-season 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.