FLORENCE, S.C.- Georgia College & State University Softball drop both ends of a pitchers duel doubleheader with Francis Marion University. The First game went into eight innings and fell to FMU 3-2 with second game also going into eight innings with a 2-1 result.

Georgia College fell to 13-12 on the season as Francis Marion improved to 20-7. GCSU returns home to the Peeler Complex Tuesday, March 12 for a doubleheader with Southern Wesleyan University starting at 2 p.m.

The Bobcats struck first in game one of the two game slate. Jessica Owens plated the first run on a solo round trip shot over the left centerfield wall. GCSU held the lead until the Patriots knotted the game at one apiece in the bottom of the seventh inning. Divina Checo laid down a sacrifice bunt in the eighth inning forcing a FMU throwing miscue making it a 2-1 game. In the home half of the frame, the Patriots plated two more runs to walk it off.

Georgia College had two hits in the contest with Kam Caldwell picking up a double in the first innings and Owens picking up the fourth inning homer.

Tiffany Caban got the start in the circle for the Bobcats. She had a superb outing throwing seven innings only allowing a single run on seven hits. Caban also fanned four batters on the afternoon. Golden Thrower closed the game pitching the eighth inning with two runs scoring only one of which was earned on two hits.

Game two was yet another pitching duel between the Bobcats and the Patriots. Similarly to game one, GCSU scored first this time on an RBI ground out from Lauren Rule to push Checo across in the fifth inning. In the bottom half of the inning, FMU matched the run making it 1-1. Francis Marion scored their second run of the game on an RBI single to left field for the 2-1 win.

Checo had an outstanding game two on a 2-for-3 performance with a pair of singles. Caldwell had the only other hit of the contest also a one base knock.

Jana Shellhorse got the start in the circle for GCSU in game two throwing seven innings. She had an outstanding day in the circle with only one earned run coming around to score on eight hits. Shellhorse pitched the complete game and nabbed six strikeouts just two shy of her season high. 

About GCSU Athletics 
Owning the top Academic Success Rate among all public colleges and universities in Division II for three consecutive academic years, the Georgia College Department of Athletics sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. GCSU Athletics has won four consecutive Presidents' Awards for Academic Excellence, and are two-time winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup and four-time winners of 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 or subscribe to the GSCU Athletics e-newsletter to receive the latest news, schedule updates and to interact with GCSU Athletics.
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