By: Bailey Clark, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

AIKEN, S.C.- Georgia College & State University (19-9, 6-5 PBC) took a first-game 3-2 loss and bounced back in game two to take a 7-6 eight-inning win at USC Aiken (11-18, 5-6 PBC), Saturday afternoon. 

Game one of the doubleheader was pitchers dual in favor of the Pacers. GCSU plated their only two runs of the contest in the fifth inning. Sydney Lancaster (Woodstock, Georgia) reached on a fielder's choice which forced a throwing error that brought the first Bobcat run around to score. Lancaster then came around to score on the Emily Hobbs (Thomasville, Georgia) double to center field. 

Jana Shellhorse (McDonough) got the start in the circle for the Bobcats. Shellhorse (7-4) picked up the loss as three runs came around two of which were earned. She also picked up five strikeouts in her six innings of work. 

Game two was heavy hitting game for both GCSU and USCA as 13 runs came around to score on 27 hits between the two squads. The Bobcats struck first as Mackenzie Martin (Dacula, Georgia) pushed a run around to score on a single. Kam Caldwell (Athens, Georgia) nabbed her first multi-base hit of the contest to plate two runs on a deep double in the right-center field gap in response to a three-run bottom of the first by USCA. In the fourth inning, Jessica Owens (Social Circle, Georgia) put the Bobcats out front 6-3 on a three-run dinger for her fifth of the season. The Pacers tied the game at six to push the game into extra innings. Owens picked up her fourth RBI of the game to drive the winning run on a single to the right side. 

Shelby Jones (Kissimmee, Florida) got the start in the circle for Georgia College pitching three and a third inning. Five runs came around to score on nine hits in her outing. Montana Ledbetter (Hanna City, Illinois) was the second reliever for GCSU going 2.2 innings. Ledbetter (4-1) got the win as she allowed zero runs on a lone hit. Shellhorse closed the game as she picked up the save in a third inning of work. 

The Bobcats will finish the series with the Pacers Sunday, Mar. 19 at 1:00 p.m. 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.