COLUMBUS, Ga.- Georgia College & State University Softball kick off their post season run with a 9-6 upset win over Lander University in the first round of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament. This is the first post season win for the Bobcats since the 2018 season.

GCSU improved to 28-26 on the season while LU fell to 32-15. Georgia College will take on Georgia Southwestern State University in the second round of the tournament on Saturday, April 27 at noon.

The Bobcats took the lead in the top of the second inning and never looked back. Back-to-back singles from Maddie Todd and Mackenzie Martin set up Emily Hobbs for her RBI single for the 1-0 lead. Martin then came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Kam Caldwell. Karlie Gutierrez reached base for the second time in the ball game on a Bearcat miscue to plate Hobbs. Lander cut the lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning on a fielder's choice. GCSU answered with a run in the top of the fifth inning on the RBI single from Divina Checo to score Gutierrez who reached via a base knock. Caldwell kicked off the scoring in the top of the sixth inning with an RBI double to the left centerfield wall to plate Eliza Kuhne who reached on an infield single. Gutierrez made it 7-1 on two RBI single up the middle to plate Hobbs and Caldwell. LU pushed a run around in the bottom of the frame to make it 7-2. Gutierrez struck again with two more RBI this time on a double to the right center-field wall making it 9-2 GCSU. Lander made it 9-6 in the bottom of the seventh in a last effort to take the ball game.

Gutierrez proved yet again why she was named the Conference Freshman of the year with a 4-for-5 performance at the plate with four RBI and a run scored. Kuhn had a perfect 3-for-3 day with two runs scored. Martin went an outstanding 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

Jana Shellhorse picked up the victory in the circle, her 12^th of the season. She tossed six and two thirds' innings with six runs scoring, only four of which were earned, on eight hits. Golden Thrower earned her name retiring the only batter she faced on a ground out to pick up her fourth save of the season.

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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