By: Bailey Clark, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga.- Georgia College & State University Softball (12-6, 2-3 PBC) opened up Peach Belt Conference (PBC) home play with a split with Columbus State University (12-6, 1-1 PBC) including a six-inning 8-0 win in game two. 

This is the first time in recent history that the Bobcats not only shut out the Cougars but they beat them in run-rule fashion. The last time GCSU took down the Cougars was Apr. 28, 2018, sweeping them in a doubleheader. 

The Cougars struck first with a two-run second inning. The CSU bats went cold in the top of the third inning where the Bobcats were able to capitalize and plate two runs of their own in the home half of the inning. GCSU was able to get two runners on via a single and a walk to bring the big bat of Jessica Owens (Social Circle) to the plate. Owens picked up her first hit of the day on an RBI single to right field for the first Georgia College run. Mackenzie Martin (Dacula) knocked the next run of the game in on a sacrifice fly to left field to tie the game at two. Columbus went cold until the top of the seventh inning where they plated two more runs to solidify the 4-2 win. 

Divina Checo (Marietta) led the offense going 2-for-3 with a double. Owens and Martin were the lone Bobcats with RBI in game one. Owens also had the second stolen base on the day as MacKenzie Hoffman (Rocky Face) had one as well. Emily Hobbs (Thomasville) was the only other Bobcat to have a multihit game in the first game of the doubleheader going 2-for-4. 

Shelby Jones (Kissimmee, Florida) got the start and the loss in the circle for GCSU pitching the complete game. Jones (5-4) allowed four earned runs on eight hits with two strikeouts. 

The second game of the day was extremely offense heavy for the Bobcats as they drove in eight runs on 11 hits. Hoffman drove in Checo for the first run on an error by the center fielder in the second inning. Owens scored the next run of the contest on a solo moonshot to left field in the third inning. The Bobcats proceeded to be consistent as they scored a run in the home half of the fourth inning on a double from Hoffman. The sixth inning was a big one for the Bobcats and it started with the career first homerun by Hobbs down the leftfield line to bring three runs around. Checo finished off the Cougars on a double to deep centerfield to plate the final two runs of the game.

Hoffman, Owens and Ashley Schell (Cumming) led the offense all having multiple hits in the game. Hobbs led the offense in RBI nabbing three on her long shot. Checo wasn't far behind her as she had two in the second contest. 

Jana Shellhorse (McDonough) got the start and the complete game shutout in the circle. Shellhorse (6-2) only allowed five hits through six innings as she fanned three batters. 

The Bobcats are back in action Sunday, Mar. 4 at 1:00 p.m. to finish out the series with Columbus State. Live stats and broadcast links are 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.