MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – The Georgia College & State University Softball team (26-22, 12-15 PBC) took the fight to a tough Georgia Southwestern State University squad (38-15, 19-8 PBC) Tuesday, closing the regular season with a pair of doubleheader losses 5-3 and 10-7 at the Peeler Complex.

Game one saw all of its scoring wrap up by the fourth inning. The deciding effort was the three-run top of the fourth by GSW. The Bobcats had just taken the lead 3-2 on a two-run single by leftfielder Madison Todd (Suwanee) in the third, but the Hurricanes had an immediate answer with a sacrifice fly and two RBI singles. Neither team would score for the final three innings.

Shortstop Emily Hobbs (Thomasville) was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored, and Todd finished with two hits in three trips, driving in the pair. Righty Shelby Jones (Kissimmee, Florida) took the loss in the complete-game effort, falling to 10-9. Jones allowed just three earned runs and struck out three over her seven innings.

Game two saw GSW jump up big, and a Bobcat rally fall just short.

The Hurricanes led 8-1 after the top of the fifth, when the Bobcat rally started. GCSU plated three runs in the bottom of that frame, all on the same play. With the bases loaded, designated player Stephanie Condland (Hoschton) singled home two runs and with a third coming in on an ensuing errant throw.

The Bobcats would bring the game to a one-run deficit in the bottom of the sixth. There, GCSU scored three more runs without the benefit of a hit. The Bobcats took advantage of two costly errors, a hit batsman and three walks.

In the top of the seventh, a two-run home run by GSW's Lacey Rutledge took the wind out of the Bobcats' sails, making it a 10-7 finish.

Rightfielder Mackenzie Martin (Dacula) did a great job setting the table from the leadoff spot, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Condland had a 2-for-4 game with the two RBIs.

Righty starter Montana Ledbetter (Hanna City, Illinois) took the loss in game two, falling to 5-4. She spun 3 1/3 innings with four earned runs.

The loss closes the regular season for GCSU Softball, setting the stage for the 2023 Peach Belt Conference (PBC) Tournament. The Bobcats have landed the No. 6-seed, and will head to the portion of the double elimination tournament hosted by No. 2-seed University of North Georgia. The Bobcats will start their postseason journey with a familiar foe, No. 3-seed Georgia Southwestern Friday, April 28 at 5 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.