By: Bailey Clark, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga.- Georgia College & State University Softball (13-6, 3-3, PBC) upset Columbus State University (12-7, 1-2 PBC) with a 10-6 Sunday afternoon win for the series victory. This is the first time the Bobcats have taken the series from Columbus State since Apr. 28, 2018, in a 4-2 win and a 5-4 nine-inning win. 

The Cougars struck first plating two runs in the top of the first inning on a two-RBI triple to right field. CSU plated another run in the third inning to give them the 3-0 lead. The Bobcats answered with a big four-run bottom of the third inning. Kam Caldwell (Athens) kept the hot bat going picking two RBI on a single slapped past the shortstop. Caldwell came around to score on a huge triple by Jessica Owens (Social Cirlce) to knot the game at three. Mackenzie Martin (Dacula) would come to the plate with two outs and put the ball in play to force a Cougar error to put GCSU in front 4-3 for the first lead of the game. CSU would go on to answer the big run fourth inning by Georgia College with a three-run inning of their own making it a 6-3 game in favor of the Cougars. The Bobcats had a tremendous response by driving in six runs. Caldwell picked up her final two RBI of the game on a single to the right side to put the game at a 6-6 tie. Owens followed with an RBI single of her own to put the Bobcats in front for the second time this time leading 7-6. Caldwell then came around to score on a wild pitch to make it an 8-6 game in favor of GCSU. Martin finished off the scoring with a two-RBI double to shallow left-center to solidify the 10-6 Georgia College win. 

Caldwell led the run production for the Bobcats as she had four RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base in her 3-for-4 outing. MacKenzie Hoffman (Rocky Face) led the team going 3-for-3 with two doubles, two runs scored and a stolen base. Owens was also a huge part of the run production going 2-for-4 with two RBI, a run scored and a stolen base. 

The Bobcats had three pitchers take the circle today starting with Jana Shellhorse (McDonough). Shellhorse threw three innings picking up s strikeout with four earned runs coming around on five hits. Montana Ledbetter (Hanna City, Illinois) got the first relief effort and the win. Ledbetter (2-0) allowed zero earned runs and picked up a strikeout in her 1.2 innings of work. Shelby Jones (Kissimmee, Florida) closed the game and got her second save of the season allowing zero runs with three strikeouts in 2.1 innings of work. 

The Bobcats are back in action Tuesday, Mar. 7 on the road at North Greenville University in doubleheader fashion. The first pitch is set for 3:00 p.m. with live stats and broadcast links 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.