MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – The Georgia College & State University Softball team (19-12, 6-8 PBC) came up empty on both ends of a doubleheader with Lander University (17-10, 9-5 PBC) 6-2 and 4-2 Friday at the Peeler Complex.

The Bobcats scored first in game one, plating a pair in the very first inning. Third base Kam Caldwell (Athens) singled home the first run, and leftfielder Mackenzie Martin (Dacula) plated the second on a double.

The Bearcats held GCSU scoreless for the remainder of the game, tying the game in the fourth and taking the lead in the fifth. The Bobcats were held to just four hits, all but one coming in the first inning.

Junior Jana Shellhorse (McDonough) threw well in the loss (7-6), as only half of the runs were earned, and she fanned six batters.

Game two featured a late rally for GCSU that fell just short.

It was Lander's turn to score early, scratching across a single run in the first frame. It took until the sixth for the Bearcats to pad their lead with three insurance runs.

GCSU came alive in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases on a hit batsman and two singles. The Bearcats then had a costly error bring in both runs. The Bobcats had the tying run on the bases in both the sixth and seventh, but couldn't get a clutch hit to tie things up.

Shortstop Sydney Lancaster (Woodstock) went 3-for-3 in game two with a steal. First base Jessica Owens (Social Circle) added a 2-for-4 game. The Bobcats rattled off 10 hits in the second contest, but couldn't string much together.

Junior Shelby Jones (Kissimmee, Florida) took the loss (8-5). She went all seven innings with four earned runs and three strikeouts.

The Bobcats and Bearcats complete the three-game series with a single game tomorrow, March 25 at 2 p.m.

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.