DAHLONEGA, Ga.- Georgia College & State University Softball splits Saturday doubleheader against No. 2 University of North Georgia. Game one was a run rule victory for the Bobcats at 12-3 in five innings. UNG took game two 9-5.

After the split the Bobcats are now 24-23 and 7-13 in the Peach Belt Conference. North Georgia is now 40-7 and 18-2 in the conference. The two squads will battle for the series win Sunday, April 14 at 1 p.m.

An offensive barrage in game one gave GCSU the 12-3 win. Emily Hobbs and Divina Checo both found their way on base to kick off the game in the first inning. Karlie Gutierrez put the Bobcats up early on a nuke over the left center field fence. In the second inning Hobbs walked and Checo smacked a double to the left field wall to result in an early Nighthawk pitching change. Gutierrez hit her second three-run missile of the day making it 6-0 GCSU in the second inning. A monstrous third inning solidified the win with six runs scoring on four hits. Caroline Pollock reached on a free pass and advanced to third on a fielder's choice and a UNG miscue. Eliza Kuhne drove her in, making it 7-0. Checo launched her second two base knock of the day to score Mackenzie Martin and Kuhne. Gutierrez struck again with the hot stick this time on an RBI double. Jessica Owens made it 12-0 on a two RBI jack over the right centerfield fence. UNG plated three in the fourth inning in an attempt to prolong the game but fell short in five innings.

This run rule victory was the first time the Nighthawks have been run ruled at home since 2014. This is also the highest ranked opponent GCSU has taken down since a doubleheader sweep of UNG, who was No. 2 at the time as well, in 2017.

Gutierrez had the hot stick on a superb 3-for-4 performance. She knocked in seven RBI and scored three times on two round trip shots and a double. Checo had a stellar game at the plate going 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles to score three runs and drive in two RBI. Owens went 1-for-3 with a homer, driving in two RBI and coming around to score.

Jana Shellhorse was wheeling and dealing in the circle picking up her ninth win of the season. She pitched four shutout innings with only three runs scoring on eight hits. Shellhorse also struck out five Nighthawk hitters.

GCSU didn't go down without a fight in game two on the 9-5 loss. UNG scored first in the second inning making it 1-0. Hobbs countered in the top of the third inning to plate Pollock who reached on a walk. North Georgia countered with a run of their own in the home side of the second. UNG took the 6-1 lead in the fourth inning. Hobbs mirrored the third inning plating Pollock again this time with Pollock reaching on a two-base knock. The Bobcats made it a two-run game, plating two runs in the sixth inning. Kam Caldwell picked up a pinch hit double to plate Gutierrez. Martin reached on a UNG error bringing the score to 6-4. North Georgia countered with runs eight and nine in the sixth. GCSU tried to keep the game going in the seventh by pushing a run around on a passed ball. The Nighthawks won 9-5.

Gutierrez, Caldwell and Pollock all had doubles in the contest to lead the team. Kuhne was the lone Bobcat with multiple hits going 2-for-3.

Shelby Jones got the start and the loss in the circle. She tossed 3.2 innings with six runs scoring, only two of which were earned, on nine hits. She also nabbed four strikeouts. Golden Thrower closed the contest throwing the final two and a third innings with three runs scoring on three hits.

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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