DUNCAN, S.C.- Georgia College & State University Softball picked up both ends of the doubleheader on the road at Converse University in run rule fashion. Game one was a 17-6 five inning mercy rule victory with game two ending in the fifth inning as well with a score of 10-1.

With both wins GCSU improved to 12-10 on the season with CU falling to 9-15. Georgia College returns to action Sunday, March 10 on the road at Francis Marion University for a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m.

Both teams went scoreless in the first inning then the Bobcats plated the first run of the ball game in the top of the second inning. Karlie Gutierrez launched her third-round trip shot of the season to make it a 1-0 ball game. The GCSU offense had a star-studded showing in third inning plating nine runs on seven hits and two Valkyrie miscues. Emily Hobbs and Kam Caldwell both reached base via a single to start the inning off. Hobbs scored on the Caldwell single, and Caldwell came around to score on a fielding error making it 3-0. Stephanie Condland rifled her third home run of the season to bring the score to 6-0. The Bobcats batted around with Hobbs coming back around to hit and she hit a double to score two more. Caldwell followed with a three base knock to score Hobbs with Jessica Owens driving a single up the middle to score Caldwell. GCSU capped off the third inning with the 10-0 lead.

Georgia College kept piling the runs on pushing five more around in fifth inning. Samantha Wilson picked up the pinch-hit effort and drove in two runs on an RBI single to right field. A passed ball scored Maddie Todd who reached on a walk. Hobbs kept her hot bat going, making it a 14-0 game on a single through the left side she would then come around to score on a CU fielding error to make it 15-0. Converse put a dent in the Bobcat lead as they picked up a run in the bottom of the fourth. Going into the top of the fifth inning, GCSU led 15-1. Addison Black led off the inning with her first career hit and she would come around to score on a wild pitch. Kacie Wiggins snagged the RBI on a ground out for the final GCSU run to cap the inning off 17-1. Converse plated five runs in the home half of the inning to try to prolong the game but the defense got it done, 17-6 was the final.

GCSU scored 17 runs on 15 hits with three batters having a multi-hit game. Hobbs led the offense going 3-for-4 with three runs batted in, three runs scored and a double. Caldwell had a 2-for-4 game with an RBI, two runs scored and a triple. Condland picked up three RBI on her 2-for-4 game which included a home run. Gutierrez picked up two RBI and two runs scored on her 1-for-3 day including the homer.

Jana Shellhorse got the start and the win throwing four innings only allowing one run on four hits. Kaitlyn Anders closed the game throwing two thirds innings with one hit and no runs.

Game two was also an offensive statement for the Bobcats scoring 10 runs on 16 hits and two errors by Converse. Georgia College kicked off the game hanging a four spot in the first inning. Caldwell picked up her first career home run well over the right field fence to score Hobbs, who reached via an error, to make it 2-0 GCSU. Mackenzie Martin drove in the final two runs of the inning on a single through the right side. The Bobcats picked up where they left off in the first with three more runs scoring in the second inning. Gutierrez drove in the first run on a single base knock to right field. Martin snagged her third RBI of the game on a single down the right field line to bring the score to 6-0. Lauren Rule smacked her first hit of the ball game to push the seventh run around. The bats went quiet in the third inning but push the mercy rule run around in the fourth. Condland entered to pinch hit and she drove in the lone run of the fourth now 8-0. GCSU added some insurance runs in the top of the fifth inning. Gutierrez drove in run number nine for the Bobcats on a single up the middle. Divina Checo followed suit with a single of her own to plate the 10 th and final run of the game. Converse plated one run around in the home half of the inning but fell in five 10-1.

Caldwell had a hot stick in game two with a 3-for-4 day which included her first career home run, two runs batted in and three runs scored. Gutierrez nabbed a 3-for-4 day as well while adding two RBI and two runs scored. Martin had a superb game two with a 2-for-3 performance including a team high of three RBI. Rule had her best outing of the season going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk. Checo rounded out the 2-for-3 performers with a pair of singles. Owens capped off the multi-hit batters with a 2-for-4 game two.

Shelby Jones got the start and the complete game win for the Bobcats in the circle. She only had one run come around, which was unearned, and two strikeouts with a lone hit. 

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.
  Read Full Article