By: Bailey Clark, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

TIGERVILLE, S.C.- Georgia College & State University Softball (15-6, 3-3 PBC) picked up two solid wins at North Greenville University (10-10) including a 9-1 six-inning run-rule victory. 

The first contest of the day had a numerous amount of offense as between the Bobcats and the Crusaders 14 runs were scored on 20 hits. Jessica Owens (Social Circle, Georgia) struck first for the Bobcats and cut the deficit in half with a solo home run to make it a 2-1 ball game in the top of the second. GCSU hung a two spot in the top of the third inning with an RBI triple from Emily Hobbs (Thomasville, Georgia) and a Kam Caldwell (Athens, Georgia) RBI single for the 4-2 lead. Much like the third inning, GCSU put up two more runs in the fourth on a Mackenzie Martin (Dacula, Georgia) RBI single. She would later come around to score on a few wild pitches putting the Bobcats up 6-4. Owens plated another run on her second home run of the day and blasted over the fence. Owens then capped off the Bobcat scoring with an RBI single to center field. 

Jana Shellhorse (McDonough, Georgia) picked up the start in the circle for GCSU allowing four runs in two and a third innings pitched. Shelby Jones (Kissimmee, Florida) got the first relief effort. Jones (6-4) only allowed one earned run in 4.1 innings of work with two strikeouts. 

The second game was all Bobcats as they picked up the 9-1 run-rule win in six innings. Sydney Lancaster (Woodstock, Georgia) kicked off the run production with a lead-off home run in the first inning. The bats went quiet for a few innings as a run would come across in the fourth inning on a wild pitch to give GCSU the 2-1 lead. Lancaster struck again with her second dinger of the day to put the Bobcats up 3-1. The big six-run sixth inning solidified the win for Georgia College starting off with a sacrifice fly for Lauren Sommerer (Loganville, Georgia). Madison Todd (Suwanee, Georgia) forced a Crusader error which brought the second run around to score. Hobbs did some damage of her own on a two-RBI single to put GCSU up 7-1. Caldwell finished it up with a two-RBI single of her own. 

Montana Ledbetter (Hannah City, Illinois) got the start and the complete game win in the circle for GCSU. She improves to a perfect 3-0 record on the season allowing a single earned run in six innings of work. Ledbetter also picked up seven strikeouts to tie her season high. 

The Bobcats will continue their road action Saturday, Mar. 11 in a conference doubleheader with Young Harris College. The first pitch is set for 3:00 p.m. with game two to follow 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 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.